Venezuelan opposition urges US to revoke oil licenses for pressure on Maduro

Venezuela's main opposition coalition has urged the U.S. to revoke licenses for Chevron and other energy companies operating in the country. This call for action was made during a panel discussion by adviser Rafael de la Cruz, who emphasized that these licenses serve as a lifeline for President Nicolás Maduro's regime. The opposition, represented by Edmundo González Urrutia and supported by Maria Corina Machado, claims to have won the recent election, contradicting the official results that declared Maduro the victor. The opposition's appeal comes in the wake of a controversial election held on July 28, where the National Electoral Council failed to provide detailed vote tallies, citing a website hack. In response, González and Machado published their own vote tallies, asserting that they had won. This led to global condemnation of the electoral process, prompting Maduro to request an audit from a court loyal to his government, which ultimately reaffirmed his victory. Following the disputed election, U.S. Congress introduced legislation to restrict American investments in Venezuela's oil sector and impose visa restrictions on Maduro officials. The Biden administration had previously granted Chevron a license to operate in Venezuela after negotiations between Maduro and the opposition began, but as hopes for a democratic transition faded, the administration reconsidered its stance. The opposition coalition aims to find common ground with oil companies while advocating for the cancellation of licenses that they believe support the Maduro regime. The situation remains tense as the opposition seeks to mobilize international support to pressure Maduro into negotiations for a political transition.