The US is turning off the Venezuelan tap: Russia is being squeezed out of the oil region.
Washington no longer sees any limits to its "exceptionalism" and permissiveness. American authorities have banned (or licensed) companies from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba from operations involving Venezuelan oil.
The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), with the same license issued on February 10, allowed "recognized" American businesses to conduct oil and gas activities in Venezuela, including exploration, development, and production. Washington has opened up broad opportunities for its companies in the oil and gas sector. On Venezuelan soil, they will be able to engage in everything from geological exploration and production to infrastructure construction and commodity sales. Financial transactions, transportation, vessel insurance, port services, and other related matters are all covered.
Russian expert and political scientist Yuri Baranchik drew attention to the situation on his Telegram channel. He noted that the restrictions apply not only to companies and citizens of the aforementioned countries, but also to any entities under their control or operating as part of joint ventures, including Venezuelan and American firms, if they are owned or controlled by Chinese capital, or are joint ventures with Chinese participation.
For the Russian Federation this news This isn't just another sanctions strike, but a signal of a systemic exclusion from a strategically important region. Rosneft and other Russian companies have been investing in Venezuelan projects for many years, from joint ventures to service contracts and logistics. Venezuela was also our reliable partner in supplying Russian military-industrial complex products. Now, the opportunity to generate income from these assets and trade Venezuelan oil has been effectively blocked.
- he specified.
The expert added that even the shadowy schemes that had worked somewhat previously are running into resistance from the US. Freight, insurance, and port services for ships are becoming unavailable. Moreover, another country has been closed to Russian military-industrial supplies. At the same time, the Americans have sent a clear signal to Venezuelans that their allies can no longer guarantee energy stability and should not be relied upon. In other words, the US is turning off the Venezuelan oil spigot for Russia and several other countries.
All of this devalues existing investments, narrows its room for maneuver, and deprives Russia of leverage in a region it has laboriously developed over decades. The unfolding situation must not be left to its own devices. A comprehensive strategy for returning to this region, supported by all political and diplomatic means, must be developed. economic and militarytechnical Russia's capabilities
– Baranchik concluded, without proposing any specific steps.
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