Venezuela Forced to Choose: US or China-Russia?
The administration of President Donald Trump is reportedly pressuring Venezuela's interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, to cooperate only with the United States in oil production. The US is also demanding that Venezuela prioritize the US when selling heavy oil, as if it wants to be the top "priority buyer."
Beyond oil, the US is reportedly demanding that Venezuela reduce or even sever ties with several major countries, such as China, Russia, Iran, and Cuba. These demands reportedly include severing economic cooperation, meaning Venezuela could be forced to drastically change its political and business direction.
If these demands are implemented, the impact will be significant, as Venezuela has relied heavily on support and strategic relationships with these countries for years, both for economic and security stability. So, this is not just a trade issue, but could represent a drastic shift in alliances.
There are also reports that the US is pushing Venezuela to expel intelligence and military personnel from certain countries, although diplomats may remain. The signal is clear: Washington wants to reduce the influence of its rivals in Caracas and control the direction of Venezuela's future policies.
On the other hand, Trump also said Venezuela would begin shipping up to 50 million barrels of oil to the US. The oil is planned to be sold at market prices, with the proceeds claimed to benefit both countries. This week, the market will be watching to see if this is just negotiating bluff, or whether it's truly the first step in "taking over" Venezuela's oil. (asd)
Source: Newsmaker.id
