US to review Venezuela sanctions relief over 'inadequate progress'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Dec 2023 04:54

The US State Department says the US is "deeply concerned" about the "detained US nationals and Venezuelan political prisoners."

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro waves a Venezuelan flag after his speech during the closing campaign on Venezuela Referendum on dispute territory with Guyana in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. (AP)

US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, announced that the US was reviewing Venezuela's sanction relief.

The US had the audacity to accuse Caracas of inadequate progress in the release of US detainees and political prisoners after it had organized Operation Gideon to try and remove elected President Nicolas Maduro from power back in 2020.

On Friday, Miller added that Caracas's announcement the previous day of a schedule and procedure for the reinstatement of all banned candidates before the 2024 elections was considered "an important development" by Washington.

However, the spokesperson said, "We are deeply concerned by the lack of progress on the release of wrongfully detained US nationals and Venezuelan political prisoners," but made no mention of the illegally detained and rather kidnapped Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab being held in US prisons despite diplomatic immunity.

Earlier, on October 31, the US called upon Maduro and his administration to stick to their agreements with the country's opposition regarding the upcoming elections next year. A State Department spokesperson declared that if Caracas does not adhere to these commitments, Washington will be prepared to take action and reinstate sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector.

The US issued this warning in reaction to a move by Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal to halt the outcomes of the opposition's presidential primary for this month, citing fraud and potential violations of the law in the opposition's October 22 contest. It remains unclear whether this suspension will invalidate the primary vote.

On October 16, the Venezuelan government and the opposition reached an agreement on new electoral conditions. The deal involves the US providing relief from energy sanctions on President Nicolas Maduro's administration in exchange for implementing measures to open up the electoral process, including permitting European Union observers and establishing a procedure to lift bans on top opponents, allowing for a more equitable political environment.