Asked about this theory, the state department official said it was for the Venezuelan opposition to decide. “Our policy is designed to support the aspirations of the Venezuelan people and the democratic opposition,” he said. “[O]ur policy is not about any one candidate.” Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela expert at the Atlantic Council who has supported the Barbados process, said the White House did not want to return to a policy of sanctions on Venezuela. “You can imagine a scenario in which María Corina is not a candidate and endorses another candidate,” he said. “For the US, that would be an acceptable outcome.” Michael McKinley, a former top state department diplomat, disagreed. “Without a reversal of the ban on María Corina Machado, the Biden administration will have to reimpose sanctions in April,” he said. “Many companies, however, have already re-established ties with the Maduro regime and are unlikely to be fully deterred; it will be difficult to sustain the effectiveness of snapback sanctions.” By Michael Stott and Joe Daniels. Full Text-> FT

And, once again, the question is: How democratic will the election be? Venezuelans were promised a presidential election in the second half of 2024 after Maduro and the faction of the opposition backed by the United States government reached an agreement in October. The opposing sides also agreed to recognize and respect a party’s right to choose a candidate freely; take steps that would reverse government decisions blocking politicians from running for office; and invite international electoral observers. The government over the past three months has shown it is willing to test the limits of the agreement, discrediting the opposition’s presidential primary, arresting numerous perceived or actual adversaries, and repeatedly characterizing members of the opposition as hate-spewing criminals.But the biggest test came Friday, when Venezuela’s highest cour t – aligned with Maduro’s government – blocked the presidential candidacy of María Corina Machado by upholding an administrative decision that bans her on running for office for 15 years.“I don’t think we have any evidence that Maduro plans to allow a competitive election so far,” said Geoff Ramsey, senior analyst on Venezuela at the Atlantic Council think tank. “What we are seeing is the government making clear that they don’t plan on going anywhere any time soon.” By Regina Garcia Cano. Full Text -> TWP

President Nicolás Maduro’s backsliding on his promise of free and fair elections is likely to prompt the return of some US sanctions, though the Biden administration will probably refrain from imposing the stiffest penalties related to oil, according to analysts. Maduro has jailed aides to the opposition presidential candidate, María Corina Machado, and Venezuela’s top court last week upheld a ban against her and others holding office. That dimmed the glimmer of hope that Maduro would face real competition in his quest for reelection this year. By Fabiola Zerpa, Eric Martin, and Patricia Laya. Full Text -> Bloomberg

Venezuela’s government must release jailed Americans for its relationship with the US to move forward, Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols said on Tuesday. “Without progress in this area a normal relationship with Venezuela is not possible,” Nichols said at an Atlantic Council event in DC. “We continue to insist and advocate for their immediate release.” By Patricia Laya and Fabiola Zerpa. Full Text -> Bloomberg

The sanctions relaxation has meant previous illicit trade of oil is moving back into the formal sector, including to the United States, Nichols added. Since October, Venezuelan oil is being sold again by trading houses that used to be customers of state company PDVSA. But they are buying from little known intermediaries, according to documents and sources. PDVSA’s largest customers continue trying to restore direct trade. “(This is) good for us consumers because we’re getting oil and other products into our markets,” Nichols said.The release of wrongfully detained Americans is incredibly important to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Nichols said. Savoi Wright, a fourth U.S. citizen arrested, has been added to the list of those held unfairly. By Julia Symmes Cobb and Marianna Parraga. Full Text-> Reuters

The US State Department has declared that they are ready “to reverse steps we have taken”. However, in an Americas Quarterly podcast, Juan Gonzalez said that if there was some form of snapback, it would not be going back to the same as before. Gonzalez is the lead US negotiator, as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. By Elias Ferrer B. Full Text -> Forbes

The Venezuela Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended the presidential primary process for the party challenging the country’s socialist government, which has controls the high court – jeopardizing a deal the Biden administration made on easing restricts on Venezuelan oil and gas in exchange for the ruling party’s promise to allow competitive elections.  The State Department vowed to reimpose the sanctions if the government of President Nicolas Maduro does not lift bans on some opposition candidates and free political prisoners and “wrongfully detained” Americans by the end of November, according to Reuters. The deal appears to have collapsed just two weeks after it was reached. “We urge Nicolas Maduro and his representatives to uphold the commitments they made at the signing of the political roadmap agreement,” a State Department spokesperson said Tuesday.By Kevin Killough. Full Text -> JusttheNews

The United States has also conveyed our expectation and understanding that Venezuela will take the following steps before the end of November:

1. Define a specific timeline and process for the expedited reinstatement of all candidates. All who want to run for President should be allowed the opportunity, and are entitled to a level electoral playing field, to freedom of movement, and to assurances for their physical safety.
2. Begin the release of all wrongfully detained U.S. nationals and Venezuelan political prisoners. By Anthony Blinken. Full Text -> DoS

The Biden administration on Wednesday broadly eased sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector in response to a deal reached between the government and opposition parties for the 2024 election – the most extensive rollback of Trump-era restrictions on Caracas. A new general license issued by the U.S. Treasury Department authorized OPEC member Venezuela, which had been under crushing sanctions since 2019, to produce and export oil to its chosen markets for the next six months without limitation.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed President Nicolas Maduro’s electoral concessions but said Washington has given him until the end of November to begin lifting bans on opposition presidential candidates and start releasing political prisoners and “wrongfully detained” Americans. By Matt Spetalnick and Marianna Parraga. Full Text->Y!News