Donald Trump use both hands to play with it Venezuelan destination. One tends towards “president in charge”, Delcy Rodríguez, while the other suggests a possible accompaniment of Corina Machado in her project. The signals, issued at the same time, at a press conference, caused another wave of confusion in Caracas. “An incredibly kind woman did something extraordinary a few days ago,” the billionaire said of the right-wing leader who gave him her gift. Nobel Peace Prize medal. “Maybe we can involve her in some way. I would love to be able to do it. Maria, maybe we can do it,” he said, and Vente Venezuela, his party, felt for the first time since January 3 that the caress prevailed over the disdain shown since the “capture” of Nicolás Maduro and even the same day she entered the White House.
But he wouldn’t have been Trump if he didn’t at the same time give a signal to the contrary. “I was against Venezuela, but now I love Venezuela,” and he “loves” it for working.”wonderfully” with the Rodríguez Government, whom, this time, he avoided at least naming. The political incompatibility between Machado and Maduro’s successor is total, which is why the insinuation of the president of the United States was disconcerting. The magnate also recalled that Washington has not renounced the policy that led to the beheading of the Government.
In fact, this Tuesday another oil tanker was intercepted in the Southern Caribbeannear the territorial waters of Venezuela, as if the military intervention had not yet occurred and there was not yet an opaque understanding with Rodríguez about the way in which economic relations based on the extraction and refining of Venezuelan crude oil worked. The magnate said that multinationals are preparing to make “massive investments” in a Venezuela that “has more oil even than Saudi Arabia.”.
First profits
While Trump outlined his plans in public, in Caracas, the “president in charge” announced that the state PDVSA has obtained 300 million dollars as a result of the first oil sale in 2026. He did not report on the destination of the exports, but he did say, contrary to the plan outlined by the US president, that this money will be allocated to actions “that will cover the income of our workers” in times of high inflation and the “negative impact on the exchange market.”
The analysts were trying to decipher those words that could be interpreted as an attempt at autonomy for the White House if one takes into account that the Trump assigned himself the role of administrator of Venezuelan oil revenues. The president of the National Assembly (AN) and brother of the “president in charge”, Jorge Rodríguez, reported that Parliament will present next Thursday the first discussion of the reform of the Organic Hydrocarbons Law could begin. In a few days it will be known if this initiative meets US expectations. Last Thursday, while Trump received Machado, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt highlighted a bilateral agreement valued at $500 million, through which the US will market up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil and manage the revenues before transferring them to the South American country.
The rhythms of transition
Meanwhile, Machado He also tries to make his own game. This Tuesday he visited the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) to meet with its secretary general, Albert Ramdin. One of the objectives of the meeting was to denounce the situation of the political prisoners in your country. The leader stressed that There is a difference between “releasing” opponents and “releasing” them.. The distance between one word and another defines the speed of changes in post-Maduro Venezuela.
Machado He described the meeting with Ramdin as “very productive” because, he said, it was marked by the agreement on the need to “start without delay” the path of “democratic institutionalization” in the South American country. “I reaffirmed our commitment and determination to move forward in the transition in Venezuela with solid pillars of justice, solidarity, prosperity and freedom for all.” Other sectors of the opposition believe that it is premature at the moment to talk about a political process of that nature.among other reasons due to the existence of political prisoners. “During these 15 days there has been talk of economic reform, but there is no way for the economy to work if there are no solid institutions. The issue is how we are reconnecting with that social pact and we can build real coexistence in Venezuela, each with their own point of view,” said deputy Stalin González.
Caracas It is crossed by contradictory and incomprehensible signals. the same AN has just approved an agreement by which the 32 Cubans who were part of Maduro’s “security ring” and died during the incursion of North American special forces are officially declared “Heroes and Martyrs of the nation.” According to the vice president of a Congress dominated by the ruling party, Pedro Infante, the “combatants” demonstrated a “infinite moral superiority” against the “invader.” Almost in sync, the Miraflores Palace described as “fake” an image generated with Artificial Intelligence and published by Trump of a map of America in which Venezuela, along with Greenland and Canada, appear as US territories.
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