Nicolás Maduro stated that the decision by the United States government to terminate the license that allowed the oil company Chevron to operate in his country impacted the deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants.
"Now we have a little problem there, because with what they did, they have damaged the communications we had opened, and I was interested in the communications we had opened because I wanted to bring all the Venezuelans who are unjustly imprisoned and persecuted just for being migrants," said Maduro at an event for International Women's Day broadcast by the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
The Chavista leader stated that the decision made by the Trump Administration "affected the travels" that Venezuela had scheduled with state airline Conviasa to bring back migrants.
"There, imperialism made some decisions and shot itself in the foot, sanctioning an American company, Chevron, which has been working here for 100 years.", he stated.
Maduro added that he has no problem with the American oil company continuing to operate in Venezuela and invited "anyone who wants" to invest in the Caribbean nation.
On Friday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the chavista Administration privately warned the U.S. Government that it will not welcome its own deported citizens after the United States ended Chevron's license.
The newspaper, which cited sources familiar with the matter, noted that the repatriation agreement for Venezuelans following the January meeting of Trump's envoy, Richard Grenell, with Maduro, was becoming strained, and the issue with Chevron has tightened the tensions.
On Tuesday, the Trump administration ended Chevron's license in Venezuela and gave it one month, until April 3, to leave the Caribbean country, after the U.S. president criticized Maduro for not expediting the deportations of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. as quickly as he had hoped.
In total, in February about 366 Venezuelans were repatriated to Venezuela from the United States on three flights. On February 24, another flight arrived in Caracas with 242 repatriates from Mexico, including women and children, under an agreement with that country.
Frequently Asked Questions about the situation between the U.S. and Venezuela regarding oil licenses and deportations
Why did the U.S. revoke Chevron's license in Venezuela?
The U.S. revoked Chevron's license in Venezuela as part of a strategy to pressure Nicolás Maduro's regime. The Donald Trump administration aims to limit the sources of income for Chavismo and increase pressure for a regime change. Additionally, Trump criticized Maduro for not adhering to agreements related to the deportation of Venezuelan migrants.
How does the revocation of oil licenses affect the deportation flights of Venezuelans?
The decision to revoke the oil licenses has complicated the deportation flights of Venezuelans from the U.S. Nicolás Maduro stated that the measure disrupted communications and the flights already scheduled for repatriating migrants, using planes from the state airline Conviasa.
What conditions has Maduro set for accepting migrants deported from the U.S.?
Maduro has conditioned the reception of deported migrants on the lifting of international sanctions imposed on his regime. He has stated that, if the sanctions are lifted, not a single migrant will leave Venezuela, and those currently abroad will return to work and contribute to the development of the country.
What impact does the revocation of Chevron's license have on the Venezuelan economy?
The revocation of Chevron's license could significantly impact the Venezuelan economy, as it restricts transactions and joint operations between Chevron and the state-owned PDVSA, affecting an important source of income for Maduro's regime.
What is the U.S. plan regarding Maduro's regime after the revocation of licenses?
The U.S. plan aims to put an end to the chavista regime in Venezuela by increasing economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure. The strategy includes revoking licenses such as Chevron's to limit the regime's sources of income and increase Maduro's international isolation.
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