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Tsvetana Paraskova

Tsvetana Paraskova

Tsvetana is a writer for Oilprice.com with over a decade of experience writing for news outlets such as iNVEZZ and SeeNews. 

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U.S. In Secret Talks With Maduro’s Socialist Party Leader

The United States has started secret preliminary talks via intermediaries with Diosdado Cabello, the leader of Venezuela’s Socialist party and the man considered the most powerful in the Latin American country after Nicolas Maduro, The Associated Press reported on Monday, quoting a senior U.S. administration official.

The inner circle of Nicolas Maduro are looking to obtain guarantees that they won’t face punishment if they yield to demands to remove Maduro from power, the AP said in its exclusive report.

According to the U.S. administration official who spoke to the AP, an intermediary in close contact with the Trump Administration met with Cabello in Caracas last month. A second meeting is being planned, too. It’s not clear if Maduro knows of and/or has endorsed such talks between Cabello and a contact linked to the U.S. administration, the AP says.

An aide to Cabello, however, told the AP that Cabello is not betraying Maduro and would only hold meetings with Americans or U.S.-backed envoys or negotiators with Maduro’s permission and only if talks lead to easing of the harsh U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and its vital oil industry.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order freezing all assets of the Venezuelan government in the United States, noting the move may open space for sanctions against companies doing business with the Maduro government.

The United States imposed sweeping sanctions against Venezuela’s oil industry at the start of this year. Since then, production had fallen drastically with no crude going to U.S. Gulf refineries—once Venezuela’s biggest market. As a result, the already serious humanitarian crisis in the country worsened further. 

According to OPEC’s secondary sources—the ones the cartel considers the official production figures—Venezuela’s crude oil production in July 2019 dropped by 32,000 bpd from June to 742,000 bpd. To compare, Venezuela’s crude oil production in 2017 averaged 1.911 million bpd.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Leave a comment
  • Mamdouh Salameh on August 19 2019 said:
    This means that neither the intrusive US sanctions against Venezuela nor the plots for a regime change are working. It also confirms that US-backed Juan Guadio has no support inside the country and that he is just an American puppet.

    When the United States imposed sanctions against Venezuela, John Bolton, President Trump’s National Security Adviser, urged in a tweet Venezuelan military officers to back interim President Juan Guaidó or suffer the consequences. He even offered relief from punishing sanctions to Venezuelan military officers who betray the legally-elected President Nicolás Maduro. He got no response.

    With its plans for regime change in Venezuela in tatters, the United States is trying now to tempt members of the inner circle of Maduro to betray him. But it will fail as John Bolton failed with the military. The message is that Venezuela is not for sale.

    And despite the hardships and suffering, Venezuelans don’t welcome foreign-supported regime change. They still express the willingness to rise up against the perceived threat of “Yankee imperialism”. After all, they are the descendants of Bolivar whose Bolivarian revolution liberated countries of South America from Spanish occupation and oppression.

    Dr Mamdouh G Salameh
    International Oil Economist
    Visiting Professor of Energy Economics at ESCP Europe Business School, London
  • Dr naveen dolittlee on August 21 2019 said:
    Hi professor Mamdouh, you review of situation in venezuela is very educational -some history. but these latino got to realise today only developed country Like U.s.a , japan etc can control such Regimes of dictators who are full of bS. they are more greedy than a hungry lion.

    Never waste time trying to do it yourself. when these white guys have explored and know everything. You can learn from India and Paksitan how not to manage an nation/economy. - it is a islamic/hindu shyt hole. torn apart everywhich way possible. over populated, leaders wtih no morals. although new leadership in india is more practical and are facing the truth of last 70 years of bigorty, looting and immoral behaviour at the top.
    So venezuelans must forget all this 19th century spansih and horsebacj riding invaders invaders. now they are dealing americans who have drones, jet planes fighter with laser guided bullets hitting even our morning tea cups wit precisoin.

    Naveen

    unviersity of beerhullah reeddnig
    napoli, italy
  • Jason Heaney on August 25 2019 said:
    Socialism always ends up the same way; horrible human suffering and loss of human motive to improve things because the vicious arm of the state has take away all personal responsibility and ability to improve ones own situation.

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