Trump Sanctions Venezuela, Ignores Saudi Oil War
NPR reports former President Trump, in a stunning display of consistency (for him, anyway), ordered a ban on sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela back in 2020. This move, framed as 'escalating pressure' on Caracas, conveniently skipped over the rather large elephant in the global oil market: Saudi Arabia. While Venezuela faced economic strangulation, the Kingdom, with its own
rather extensive human rights record (see: Yemen, Khashoggi), enjoyed endless US military contracts and diplomatic favoritism. One might wonder about the timing, or perhaps, the selective application of international 'pressure.' It seems some oil producers are more equal than others when it comes to US policy, especially those who align with particular regional agendas. Funny how 'humanitarian
crises' in oil-rich nations only get Washington's full attention when said nation isn't a strategic ally, or hasn't paid its dues to the right lobby groups.