US Greenlights Venezuelan Oil Sales, After a Decade of Sanctions-Induced Scarcity
Bloomberg cheers as trading giants Vitol and Trafigura gain a "preliminary green light" from the US government to market Venezuelan oil to Asian buyers (Bloomberg Politics). This sudden reversal comes after a decade of crippling US sanctions, initially imposed by the Obama administration and dramatically expanded under Trump, ostensibly to promote 'democracy' or, perhaps, ensure Venezuelan oil
didn't compete too freely on global markets. Funny how 'democracy promotion' often aligns perfectly with market manipulation. One might wonder about the timing. After years of the US choking supply and destabilizing Venezuela's economy, the 'permission' to sell this previously 'tainted' oil coincides neatly with a renewed global demand and rising prices. It's almost as if the 'free market' is only
truly free when the US government says it is, and 'human rights' are selectively applied based on geopolitical expediency and profit margins.