Venezuelanalysis

🖊OPINION | US Sanctions on Venezuela Continue: Corporate Beneficiaries and a Targeted Society The US continues to maintain its sanctions framework on Venezuela, with no formal rescission of measures. Instead, limited authorizations are issued through licenses by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, allowing specific transactions that would otherwise be prohibited. In this opinion piece, Roger Harris explains how the Trump administration is leveraging Venezuela sanctions to benefit Western corporations. Read more here 👉🏽https://shorturl.at/erlNT #Sanctions#USVenezuelaRelations

🖊OPINION | Venezuela: Between Imperial Intervention and Class Suicide Joan López and Alejandro Pedregal analyze Venezuela's post-January 3 setbacks and the broader implications for the anti-imperialist struggle. On January 3, 2026, a US military operation in Caracas resulted in the abduction of Nicolás Maduro and more than 90 deaths. In the weeks that followed, Venezuelan authorities advanced a reform of the hydrocarbon law allowing foreign companies to directly market oil production and ending the state monopoly on exports. The reform “eliminates any remaining obstacles to private operational control of that sector.” This opinion piece links these developments to shifts in economic policy and foreign relations following the change in leadership. Full piece here 👉🏽https://shorturl.at/CniyW #2026OilReform#Chavismo#Sanctions#USVenezuelaRelations

📰 NEWS | Venezuela: Rodríguez Announces Electricity Rationing Ahead of Heatwave, Drought Forecast Venezuela has introduced a 45-day electricity saving plan as authorities anticipate increased demand driven by extreme heat and drought conditions, according to Acting President Delcy Rodríguez. The government also confirmed plans to reform the electricity sector to allow private investment through joint ventures in generation and distribution, aiming to address long-standing infrastructure limitations. Recent outages and limited operational capacity, estimated at 12–14 GW out of 34 GW installed, highlight ongoing challenges in the national grid. Read the full report here 👉🏾https://shorturl.at/2SmsF #ElectricalGrid#Sanctions

📰 NEWS | Trump Administration Issues License to Boost US Presence in Venezuelan Oil Sector The US Treasury has issued General License 52, permitting US entities to engage with Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, including exports and new production deals. The measure requires that taxes, royalties, and dividends be deposited into US-controlled accounts. The move comes as Washington broadens sanctions waivers for selected corporations, with companies such as Chevron, Shell, Eni, and Repsol expanding operations in Venezuela amid rising global energy prices. Read the full report here 👉🏾https://shorturl.at/pPqfF #PDVSA#Sanctions#USVenezuelaRelations

📰 NEWS | Chevron and Shell to Strike Oil Deals Under Reformed Hydrocarbon Law Chevron and Shell are moving to secure new oil deals in Venezuela after the country reformed its Hydrocarbon Law to provide improved conditions for private energy corporations. According to Reuters, Chevron will expand operations in the Orinoco Oil Belt through the Petropiar joint venture, entering the Ayacucho 8 bloc to increase extra-heavy crude output. Petropiar currently produces around 90,000 barrels per day. Shell is expected to take over operations in PDVSA’s Punta de Mata division in Monagas state under a model allowing the state oil company to lease projects to private operators in exchange for a share of production. The legislative reform, approved in January, allows the Venezuelan executive to reduce royalties and income taxes and grants minority partners greater control over operations and sales. Read our full report here 👉🏾https://shorturl.at/23wlT #Chevron#PDVSA#Sanctions#Shell

📰 NEWS | Venezuela: PDVSA Pledges ‘Reliable’ Oil Supplies to US Amid Iran War Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA announced it has signed supply contracts delivering crude and derivatives to US markets, reaffirming its commitment to “global energy market stability” amid price volatility following the US-Israel war on Iran. The development comes under a US-controlled framework imposed after Washington asserted control over Venezuela’s oil industry. US officials confirmed that $500 million from an estimated $2 billion oil deal has been transferred to Caracas, while proceeds are deposited in accounts managed by the US Treasury Department and contracts remain under US jurisdiction. Meanwhile, Venezuelan exports declined in February after shipments to China were wound down, with exports expected to rebound in March through scheduled deliveries to Indian buyers. Read our full report here 👉🏾https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-pdvsa-pledges-reliable-oil-supplies-to-us-amid-iran-war/ #PDVSA#Sanctions#USVenezuelaRelations

📰 NEWS | Venezuela: Oil Production Recedes Under US Blockade, Gov’t Denies Israel Shipment Venezuela’s crude oil production declined to 830,000 barrels per day in January, the lowest output since May 2024, after a month-long United States naval blockade disrupted exports and led to storage constraints and cuts in production. OPEC’s latest monthly report, based on secondary sources, shows the drop from 917,000 bpd in December, while PDVSA reported 924,000 bpd, down from 1.12 million bpd. Separately, the Venezuelan government denied a Bloomberg report alleging a crude shipment to Israel’s Bazan Group. Under the current US-imposed arrangement, traders Vitol and Trafigura are lifting Venezuelan oil, depositing proceeds in US-administered accounts, with sanctions waivers requiring payments to be handled under US Treasury oversight. Read our full report here 👉https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-oil-production-recedes-under-us-blockade-govt-denies-israel-shipment #Israel#PDVSA#Sanctions

📰 NEWS | Venezuela Approves Pro-Business Oil Reform as Trump Issues New Sanctions Waiver Venezuela’s National Assembly has approved and enacted a reform of the 2001 Hydrocarbon Law that lowers royalty and tax ceilings, grants the executive discretion to reduce fiscal burdens, and expands operational and sales control for private and minority partners. The law also allows foreign arbitration in disputes. The vote was followed by a new US Treasury sanctions waiver, General License 46, authorizing US companies to purchase and market Venezuelan crude under US jurisdiction, with payments directed to US-controlled accounts. Additional licenses are required for investment or production. Read the full report here 👉🏽https://shorturl.at/hlJ7q #2026OilReform#PDVSA#Sanctions#USVenezuelaRelations

📰 NEWS | Rubio Defends US Military Operation, Praises Venezuela Oil Reform US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the January 3 US military operation in Venezuela during a Senate hearing, arguing it was not an act of war. He also confirmed that Washington is administering Venezuelan oil sales, with proceeds deposited in US-controlled accounts before partial release to Caracas. On Tuesday, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced that Venezuela is using "unblocked funds" to import medical equipment from the US. Read our report 👉🏽https://shorturl.at/Sm9iK #Sanctions#USmilitaryattack#USVenezuelaRelations

📰 NEWS | Venezuela: Creditors Hunger for 170B Debt Renegotiation International creditors have signaled readiness to renegotiate Venezuela’s defaulted debt, estimated at up to $170 billion, following a sharp rise in bond trading and prices since early January. Bloomberg reports Venezuelan bonds are trading near 40 cents on the dollar, up from past lows. Elias Ferrer Breda, financial analyst and director of Orinoco Research, told Venezuelanalysis that the growing creditor “enthusiasm” reflects expectations that a debt restructuring deal is closer, but warned that any agreement will hinge on US recognition of the Venezuelan government. Should Washington extend formal recognition, this could also pave the way for Venezuela to access around $4.9 billion in IMF-issued special drawing rights that are currently blocked under US policy. Read the full report here 👉🏽https://shorturl.at/CcJYQ #ForeignDebt#Sanctions#USVenezuelaRelations

📰 NEWS | Venezuelan Banks Receive 300M From US-Administered Crude Sales, Gov’t Officials Defend Oil Reform Four Venezuelan private banks received US$300 million from an initial US-administered sale of Venezuelan crude, part of a broader US$500 million operation involving oil previously held in storage. The funds were partially injected into the foreign exchange market through bank auctions, with further allocations pending. At the same time, Venezuela’s National Assembly has begun debating a reform of the Hydrocarbon Law. Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said the legislation seeks to adapt to current economic conditions and ensure that foreign investment is “protected and profitable,” including through Productive Participation Contracts introduced under the 2020 Anti-Blockade Law. Read our full report here 👉🏽https://shorturl.at/Zg3aF #PDVSA#Sanctions#USVenezuelaRelations

📸 IN IMAGES | CHAMBA: Venezuelan Resistance Through a Photographic Lens The photographic project CHAMBA: Portraits of the Venezuelan People by Venezuelan photographer Rome Arrieche was inaugurated in New York City on January 10. The exhibit, hosted at The People’s Forum, focuses on the Venezuelan working class and documents forms of popular organization and resistance under US economic sanctions. The project includes a book, a public exhibition, and printed works, with photographs taken across several regions of Venezuela. The exhibition will remain open to the public until February 13. 👉 Click here to explore the full gallery: https://shorturl.at/JFK6z #Photography#Sanctions