ABC reported that the Trump administration has told Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, that her government must exclusively partner with the US on oil production and favor the US when selling heavy crude.
The US is also demanding that Venezuela reduce its economic ties with China, Russia, Iran and Cuba, ABC reported, citing three unnamed people familiar with the situation. Doing so would represent a full political realignment for Venezuela, which has heavily relied on the quartet for economic and security stability in recent years.
Prior to the US’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro over the weekend, China was the world’s biggest buyer of crude from the South American nation and the main beneficiary of its heavily discounted oil.
The ongoing US blockade has largely stopped that trade, and pushed up offered prices for China. American forces have continued in particular to pursue the Bella 1, which has since switched to a Russian flag. Russia has now sent a submarine and other naval assets to provide an escort for the vessel, the Wall Street Journal reported.
