THE HAGUE - The Netherlands confirms that the agreement between Curaçao and Venezuela, involving an oil-for-debt program, is exempt from the new U.S. sanctions, despite the recent deterioration of the political situation in Venezuela.
Tessa van Staden, spokesperson for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, indicates that the specific exemptions for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom remain in effect. This follows the announcement by the U.S. that they will not extend the suspension of sanctions on the Venezuelan oil and gas industry in April without signs of democratic progress in Venezuela.
The U.S. government recently tightened sanctions against the Venezuelan state oil company and warned that relaxations in the oil and gas sector would expire if the situation does not improve. These developments have raised concerns about the impact on international agreements with Venezuela.
Nevertheless, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas confirms that the renewed U.S. sanctions will not affect the agreement between RdK (Refineria di Kòrsou) and PdVSA, thanks to the exception reached last year. This agreement was a significant step in resolving a long-standing dispute between the two parties, made possible by the specific exemptions in the U.S. sanctions.
The recent actions of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, including the detention of opposition leaders and the exclusion of candidates for the upcoming presidential elections, have drawn criticism from the U.S. government.
These actions are seen as violating the agreements made in October 2023 when the U.S. decided to ease sanctions in support of dialogues in Venezuela. In turn, the Venezuelan government has labeled the U.S. measures as "extortion."