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
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria
Syrian Observatory: US cargo plane lands with two military helicopters at Kharab al-Jir base in the countryside of Rmeilan, north of Hasakah
Miguel Díaz-Canel to Gustavo Petro: US seeks to reimpose the Monroe Doctrine in its relations with sovereign states in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades, the military wing of the PFLP, says they handed over the body of an Israeli captive to the Israeli occupation forces in implementation of the clauses of the ceasefire agreement.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: Israeli drones are flying over the presidential palace in Baabda, Mount Lebanon, and over the skies of the capital, Beirut, and its suburbs.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch a series of raids on the al-Mahmoudiya and Jarmaq areas
Trump reiterates proposal for Russia and Ukraine to stop at current front line, negotiate later
Reuters: Trump says no discussion regarding Ukraine ceding Donbas to Russia

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

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025
Zionists Fundamentally Misread Iran Due To Their Own Echo Chambers

Zionists fundamentally misread Iran due to their own echo chambers

  • Analysis
  • 15 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Inside Trump’s secret campaign to dismantle the ‘Deep State’: Reuters
Politics

Inside Trump’s secret campaign to dismantle the ‘Deep State’: Reuters

ap
Politics

Cuba's president denounces renewed US meddling in region, backs Petro

Bob Vylan: 'Who cares about the chant when Palestinians are killed?'
Arts and Culture

Bob Vylan: 'Who cares about the chant when Palestinians are killed?'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks before a lunch with President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Politics

Rubio leading US campaign to oust Maduro through force, sanctions: WSJ

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