Biden administration to relax sanctions against Venezuela and Cuba -

Washington: The Biden administration in the United States has decided to relax the sanctions imposed by the previous Trump administration on Venezuela and Cuba. Former President Donald Trump had imposed harsh economic and diplomatic sanctions against the government of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. Whereas, action had been initiated against Cuba, citing human rights issues. After that, Russia took advantage of this to strengthen its ties with these countries. Now, against the background of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Biden administration is making all possible efforts to turn the Russian supporter countries on its side. Decisions to relax the sanctions are believed to be a carrot dangled for this purpose.

The economic sanctions imposed against the leading Venezuelan fuel company PDVSA will be relaxed. It is said that this will directly benefit the US oil company Chevron Corp. Currently, the fuel rates have skyrocketed in the United States, given the sanctions imposed against Russia and all the efforts to bring them under control have failed. Against this background, the Biden administration seems to be trying to normalise relations with an oil-rich country like Venezuela to tide over the fuel crisis in the United States.

Along with the relaxation of sanctions against the Venezuelan oil company, Carlos Malpica Flores, a close associate of dictator Nicolas Maduro and a senior official with the PDVSA, has been removed from the US sanctions list. It is said that the step has been taken to initiate a dialogue between the Biden administration and the Maduro government to improve relations. The US officials clarified that although Carlos has been removed from the list, the names of Maduro and 140 other leaders and officials continue to remain on the sanctions list.

Former US President Barack Obama had taken the historic decision during his tenure to lift sanctions imposed against Cuba. Biden has repeated the Obama action. The limit of funds sent from the United States to Cuba has been removed. At the same time, the number of charter flights coming from Cuba into the United States will be increased. The process of visas for Cuban citizens also will be expedited. Although Cuba has welcomed the US decision, there is all-round criticism in the United States.

Bob Menezes, the Senior member of Biden’s Democrat party, has expressed strong displeasure over the decision. He lashed out at the decision of the Biden administration, saying that those who believe that relaxing travel and other restrictions against Cuba will result in the establishment of democracy in Cuba are not willing to accept that they are wrong. Marco Rubio, a member of the Republican party, accused the Biden administration is repeating the failed Obama policies.