Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

US urgently reaches out to Venezuela amid possible energy crisis

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen Net
  • 8 Mar 2022 11:38
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

Following talks on a possible ban on Russian oil and gas, the US exerts strained effort to unfreeze unfriendly relations with Venezuela, a top oil exporter whose re-entry into US energy markets could lessen the country’s reliance on Russian oil.

  • x
  • Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro
    Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro

The White House said Monday that a US delegation met with Venezuelan government officials in Caracas over the weekend for talks that included a discussion of energy supplies, as Washington seeks ways to lessen its reliance on Russian oil.

Venezuela's opposition also stated that it met with a high-level US delegation, whose visit to Caracas coincided with Washington's efforts to isolate Russia over its special military operation in Ukraine.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose regime the US severed ties with in 2019, was one of the international figures to assure Russian President Vladimir Putin of his "strong support" in the aftermath of the operation.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that “the purpose of the trip to Venezuela that was taken by administration officials was to discuss a range of issues including certain energy, energy security."

Maduro confirmed the meeting in a televised appearance late Monday, calling it "respectful, cordial, and diplomatic," but did not provide further details on the discussions.

"We did it in the presidential office," he said. "We had almost two hours talking."

"It seemed very important to me to be able, face to face, to discuss topics of maximum interest to Venezuela," he added.

The alternative to Russian oil

The US has imposed a slew of sanctions on Caracas in an attempt to oust Maduro, with one 2019 measure prohibiting Venezuela from trading its crude oil – which accounts for 96 percent of the country's revenue – on the US market.

Related News

British citizens welcome 2024 with 5% hike in energy bills

UK’s net zero ambitions risky after ‘disastrous’ offshore wind auction

According to The New York Times, the visit by senior State Department and White House officials was related to Washington's alleged interest in replacing a portion of the oil it currently buys from Russia with oil it no longer buys from Venezuela.

The White House has indicated that it is looking into ways to reduce Russian oil imports without harming US consumers and while maintaining global supply – though Psaki said Monday that no decision on a possible ban on Russian oil had been made.

US policy shifts with shifting tides

Since cutting diplomatic ties with Caracas, Washington has refused to deal with the Maduro government, instead of recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate president.

According to Guaido's office, the opposition-held a "sustained meeting" with the US delegation.

Maduro also announced the resumption of talks with the opposition, which had been stalled for five months.

Last month, Washington signaled that it was willing to reconsider its sanctions policy toward Venezuela if talks between Maduro's government and the opposition progressed.

The announcement came in response to Maduro's request for a peace conference following Russia's military operation in Ukraine in order to avoid a "third world war."

"We are ringing the warning bell... to the whole world," said Maduro, calling for "humanitarian corridors" in Ukraine to be respected.

"We are gravely concerned about the possibility of a war in Europe and an extension... of this armed confrontation, it seems to fester, a public media campaign of hatred and a set of economic measures aimed at aggravating the conditions and extending the scenario of war," added Maduro.

In a tweet, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele questioned US’ motives, saying that "the US government decides who the bad guy is and who the good guy is and also when the bad guy becomes good and the good guy becomes bad." 

On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine in response to DPR and LPR calls for assistance in countering Ukrainian troop aggression. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the special operation is only targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure and poses no threat to civilians. Moscow has repeatedly stated that it has no intention of occupying Ukraine.

  • Venezuela
  • energy prices
  • US
  • Ukraine
  • Russia
  • Sanctions on Russia
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS