U.S. Reinstates Oil Sanctions on Venezuela: Government Fails to Hold Free and Fair Elections

Caracas, Venezuela Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Biden administration reinstates oil sanctions on Venezuela
President Nicolás Maduro's government failed to hold free and fair elections as agreed in the Barbados Agreement
U.S. Treasury Department announces sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector will come back into force in 45 days
Venezuelan authorities blocked opposition figures from running for president or registering their designated alternatives as candidates
U.S. Reinstates Oil Sanctions on Venezuela: Government Fails to Hold Free and Fair Elections

The Biden administration has announced the reimposition of oil sanctions on Venezuela due to President Nicolás Maduro's government failing to uphold its end of a deal made last October. The agreement, known as the Barbados Agreement, required Maduro's government to hold free and fair elections monitored by international observers in exchange for temporary relief from U.S. sanctions on Venezuela's oil, gas, gold, and sovereign debt sectors.

However, according to multiple sources including CNN and AP News, the Venezuelan authorities have blocked opposition figures from running for president or registering their designated alternatives as candidates. One of the most notable cases is Maria Corina Machado who won her primary election but was prevented from participating in Venezuela's elections.

As a result, on April 17, 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it would not renew the general license and sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector will come back into force in 45 days.

The decision to reinstate the sanctions was based on Maduro's government's failure to comply with the spirit and letter of the Barbados Agreement. The U.S. official stressed that this should not be viewed as a final decision, but rather an acknowledgement of Venezuela's current political circumstances.

The reimposition of sanctions essentially returns U.S. policy to pre-agreement status, making it illegal for U.S. companies to do business with state-run oil producer Petróleos de Venezuela S.A (PDVSA) without a specific license from the U.S. Treasury Department.

The Venezuelan authorities have dismissed the diplomatic rebuke and accused Washington of betraying a promise to lift all sanctions, which were supposedly agreed during secret negotiations between the two countries.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any other ways Venezuela's government could be encouraged to hold free and fair elections?
  • How will reinstating sanctions affect U.S.-Venezuela relations?
  • Is there any possibility that the U.S. will renew the general license in the future?

Sources

91%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

US reimposes oil sanctions on Venezuela after broken election promises

Financial Times Thursday, 18 April 2024 01:12
  • Unique Points
    • Venezuela broke election promises leading to the sanctions
  • Accuracy
    • Venezuelan oil exports rose in March 2022 ahead of sanctions reinstatement
    • Maduro expressed willingness to negotiate but opposition maintains unity to change Venezuela
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Biden administration to end sanctions waiver on Venezuelan oil

ABC NEWS SITE NAMES Name: ABC News Site Names URL: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-officially-blames-iran_106834435 ABC News Thursday, 18 April 2024 01:13
  • Unique Points
    • Biden administration is ending sanctions waiver on Venezuelan oil sectors
    • Maduro's government harassed and arrested opposition figures, including Maria Corina Machado who won the primary election
  • Accuracy
    • Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro did not hold free and fair elections as agreed in October 2021
    • Maduro’s government harassed and arrested opposition figures, including Maria Corina Machado who won the primary election
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (95%)
    The article demonstrates a clear bias towards the Biden administration's position on Venezuela and its dealings with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The author portrays the Biden administration's actions as noble and necessary, while criticizing Maduro for not upholding his end of the bargain. The article also implies that Maduro is responsible for the crisis at the US border and rising gas prices, without providing any evidence to support this claim.
    • But Venezuelan oil production has been low for years now because of ‘years of underinvestment and mismanagement’, per a report by the U.S. EIA last fall.
      • Six months after lifting U.S. sanctions on Venezuela’s key oil and gas sectors, the Treasury Department announced Wednesday it will let those temporary licenses expire -- saying Maduro’s government did not uphold its end of the bargain.
        • The opposition maintains – they are ‘united to change Venezuela.’
        • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        95%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        US to reimpose sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas sector

        CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Jennifer Hansler Wednesday, 17 April 2024 19:32
        • Unique Points
          • The US will reimpose sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas sector due to the Maduro government’s failure to allow inclusive and competitive elections.
          • Maria Corina Machado and her designated alternative candidate Dr. Corina Yoris were blocked from running for president in Venezuela’s elections.
        • Accuracy
          • Venezuela broke election promises leading to the sanctions
          • Maduro's government harassed and arrested opposition figures, including Maria Corina Machado who won the primary election
        • Deception (100%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication
        • Fallacies (95%)
          The article contains several statements made by US senior administration officials regarding the Venezuelan government's failure to hold inclusive and competitive elections as committed under the Barbados Agreement. These statements are presented as facts and do not contain any logical fallacies. However, there is an appeal to authority when the officials state that 'the US completed a very careful review' and determined that 'the Maduro government has fallen short.' This appeal to authority does not significantly impact the overall score due to the lack of other fallacies in the article.
          • The United States will reimpose sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector in response to the Maduro government's failure to allow 'an inclusive and competitive election' to take place.
          • According to a US senior administration official, the US 'completed a very careful review' and determined that the Maduro government 'has fallen short'
          • A third US senior administration official could not quantify the impact that revoking the authorization will have, noting that 'there’s not a reporting requirements so we don’t have those exact figures' of how much business was done under that general license.
        • Bias (95%)
          The author, Jennifer Hansler, demonstrates a clear political bias against the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolas Maduro. She reports that the US will reinstate sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas sector due to the Maduro government's failure to hold inclusive and competitive elections. The author quotes multiple senior administration officials who express their concerns about the Venezuelan authorities blocking opposition candidates from running for president, as well as not fully complying with the spirit or letter of the Barbados Agreement. The author does not provide any counter-arguments or perspectives from those in favor of Maduro's government, and her language is critical towards Maduro and his administration.
          • According to a US senior administration official, the US ‘completed a very careful review’ and determined that the Maduro government ‘has fallen short.’
            • A second US senior administration official said the Maduro government ‘did not fully comply with the spirit or the letter of the Barbados Agreement.’
              • A third US senior administration official could not quantify the impact that revoking the authorization will have, but noted that ‘there’s not a reporting requirements so we don’t have those exact figures of how much business was done under that general license.’
                • The United States will reimpose sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas sector in response to the Maduro government’s failure to allow ‘inclusive and competitive election’ to take place.
                • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication

                92%

                The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                US reimposes oil sanctions on Venezuela as hopes for a fair presidential election fades

                The Associated Press News Wednesday, 17 April 2024 19:32
                • Unique Points
                  • The Biden administration has reimposed oil sanctions on Venezuela due to President Nicolás Maduro’s attempts to consolidate his rule and the fading hopes for a democratic opening in the country.
                  • , The U.S. had previously granted relief from sanctions on Venezuela’s state-run oil, gas, and mining sectors in October, after the government agreed to work with the opposition to hold a free and competitive presidential election this year.
                  • , Maduro’s inner circle has undermined the agreement by blocking opposition figures from registering their candidacies or those of designated alternatives and jailing numerous government critics over the past six months.
                  • , U.S. companies have 45 days to wind down operations in Venezuela to avoid adding uncertainty to global energy markets, as per the U.S. official.
                  • , The reimposition of sanctions essentially returns U.S. policy to pre-agreement status, making it illegal for U.S. companies to do business with state-run oil producer Petróleos de Venezuela S.A (PDVSA) without a specific license from the U.S. Treasury Department.
                  • , Venezuelan authorities have dismissed the diplomatic rebuke and accused Washington of betraying a promise to lift all sanctions, which were supposedly agreed during secret negotiations between the two countries.
                • Accuracy
                  • Venezuela broke election promises leading to the sanctions
                  • Maduro’s inner circle has undermined the agreement by blocking opposition figures from registering their candidacies or those of designated alternatives and jailing numerous government critics over the past six months.
                • Deception (100%)
                  None Found At Time Of Publication
                • Fallacies (75%)
                  The article contains an appeal to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It also uses a dichotomous depiction of the situation in Venezuela. No formal fallacies were found.
                  • . . . any U.S. company investing in Venezuela would have 45 days to wind down operations to avoid adding uncertainty to global energy markets.
                  • Venezuelan authorities angrily dismissed the diplomatic rebuke, saying it fulfilled its commitments made in Barbados and accusing Washington of betraying a promise to lift all sanctions it said was made during secret negotiations between the two countries.
                  • In October, the U.S. granted Maduro’s government relief from sanctions on its state-run oil, gas and mining sectors after it agreed to work with members of the opposition to hold a free and competitive presidential election this year.
                • Bias (95%)
                  The article expresses a clear disapproval of President Maduro's actions in Venezuela and his failure to hold a free and fair election. The author uses language that depicts Maduro as someone who is undermining the agreement made in Barbados, blocking opposition candidates from registering, jailing government critics, and dismissing diplomatic rebukes. The article also mentions the U.S.'s call for Maduro to allow all candidates and parties to participate in the electoral process and release all political prisoners without restrictions or delay.
                  • Maduro went on to schedule an election for July and invite international observers to monitor voting, but his inner circle has used the ruling party’s total control over Venezuela’s institutions to undermine the agreement.
                    • Numerous government critics have also been jailed over the past six months, including several of Machado’s aides.
                      • The U.S. again calls on Maduro to allow all candidates and parties to participate in the electoral process and release all political prisoners without restrictions or delay.
                      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication
                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication