United States of America And Venezuelan This Wednesday, they once again signaled that bilateral relations are moving away from the biggest point of conflict. American justice ordered freedom Colombian-born businessman Alex Saab, who carries out million-dollar economic operations on his behalf VenezuelanHe was extradited from Cape Verde in 2021. Saab began to be seen as the pioneer of this business Nicolas MaduroAn accusation that the Miraflores Palace publicly denies. was one foreign exchange currency The government requested the start of negotiations opposition channeling internal conflict. Caracas will turn attention to Washington Release of 10 citizens of American origin or nationalityAmong them were two former Green Berets who joined the effort to establish a rebel focus that would come to power in May 2020. Juan Guaidósubsequently appointed as the self-appointed “interim president” of Venezuela.
Miraflores Palace considered Saab as part of the delegation discussing how to reduce the political conflict with the opposition in Mexico, which has worsened since 2014. Saab was facing federal charges in the US. laundered approximately 350 million dollars Through the Venezuelan exchange control system. Washington justice was inclined to keep him in prison. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs implemented its own criteria.
administration Joe Biden He hopes that the businessman’s return to Venezuela will contribute in several ways: migration pressure A country where millions of people left, Preventing the deepening of the bond between Madurismo and Russia and furthermore, leaving it unchallenged against its rivals when it comes to the implementation of the recent Barbados agreement, which aims to create conditions for a transparent and unrestricted electoral process in the second half of 2024. In this context, Kremlin announced that Maduro’s visit to Russia has been postponed. “Dates are being agreed upon. It can now be said that this will not happen before the end of the year,” the Kremlin spokesman said. said. Dmitry Peskov.
Other negotiations
In 2022, Venezuela and the United States have already agreed on an exchange that has attracted the attention of international observers: Two nephews of Maduro’s wife Cilia Flores Efraín Campo Flores and Franqui Flores de Freitas, accused of drug trafficking, returned to the country. He released seven Americans in exchange for Caracas. At the same time as this shift, the United States Treasury Department authorized American and European oil companies to become involved in the Venezuelan oil and gas sector. Its impact on the impoverished Venezuelan economy is also beginning to be felt. Maduro spoke on this occasion “new moment” The state of relations with Washington. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its influence on the world hydrocarbon market facilitated this understanding.
In addition to the Saab case, Madurismo in Caracas is also expected to release a number of political prisoners. Days earlier, Roberto Abdul, one of the organizers of October’s successful opposition primaries, which the Government described as fraudulent, was arrested. In Caracas, it was guaranteed that this would not be the last political gesture before the end of the year.