The main opposition coalition in Venezuela is calling on the U.S. to cancel licenses that allow Chevron and other energy companies to operate in the country in order to pressure President Nicolás Maduro to negotiate a transition of power. The appeal was made by an adviser to the campaign of Edmundo González Urrutia and opposition leader María Corina Machado, who claim to have won the election by a wide margin despite the official results declaring Maduro as the winner. They believe that the presence of these oil companies in Venezuela is enabling the regime to continue impoverishing the country and oppress its population.
Chevron, the largest company to have received permission from the Biden administration to do business with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, was granted the license in 2022 as part of a negotiation process between Maduro and the opposition coalition. The Treasury Department sanctioned PDVSA in 2019 for corruption and anti-democratic activities. While hopes for a democratic opening in Venezuela led to a brief reprieve from sanctions, the Biden administration has since tightened restrictions, leaving room for companies to apply for licenses to exempt them.
The opposition coalition aims to find common ground with oil companies while also pressuring them to withdraw from Venezuela in order to weaken Maduro’s grip on power. Chevron has stated its commitment to operate in compliance with laws and regulations in both the U.S. and the countries where they operate. The White House has not yet commented on the opposition’s call to cancel the licenses, which are set to renew automatically. The lack of transparency in the election results and Maduro’s subsequent victory prompted global condemnation and calls for further sanctions against the regime.
Following the disputed election, legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress to prohibit American investments in Venezuela’s oil sector and impose visa restrictions on Maduro government officials. Resolutions recognizing a González victory were also brought forward in both the House and Senate. González, who has since left for exile in Spain, faced arrest in Venezuela in connection with the publication of vote tally sheets. Last week, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 16 allies of Maduro for obstructing the vote and committing human rights abuses, including high court officials and state security leaders.
The situation in Venezuela remains volatile as the opposition coalition continues to pressure the U.S. to cancel licenses for oil companies operating in the country in order to force Maduro to negotiate a transition of power. The ongoing dispute over the election results and the lack of transparency have led to international condemnation and calls for further sanctions against the regime. As tensions escalate, it remains to be seen how the Biden administration will respond to the opposition’s plea and what impact it will have on the political situation in Venezuela.
