Visit of the Chairman of the Russian Security Council

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Tuesday (28).

The visit is part of a series of visits by Russian officials to countries in the Global South. Last Monday (27th), Patrushev visited Algeria and is also scheduled to visit China and Iran.

In Venezuela, the Russian delegation was welcomed by Maduro, who characterized the meeting as a “thankful visit”. “We reviewed the various levels of cooperation that our countries maintain in support of shared development,” the President said.

::What’s Happening in Venezuela::

Earlier this Tuesday, Patrushev met with José Ornelas Ferreira, secretary general of Venezuela’s Security Council, to discuss “matters related to cooperation between the ministries of justice, secret services and public order agencies.”

According to the Russian broadcaster RTTopics like “Cooperation between countries in the field of digital security” were discussed.

“Today we can see that all sovereign countries are living in a moment of truth, in which they have to make a decision: to protect the freedom to choose their path of development, their values ​​and their identity, or to submit to their orders. -called the West under the leadership of the United States,” according to RT, the Russian official said.

Patrushev thanked the “Bolivarian leadership for its public condemnation of the West and NATO’s destructive policy and aggression against Russia.”

America, Sanctions and Oil

Patrushev’s visit to Caracas comes at a time of uncertainty in US-Venezuela relations. The two countries, which have experienced tense moments in recent years when Donald Trump occupied the White House, have shown signs of rapprochement in the past year.

President Joe Biden has twice sent a delegation to negotiate directly with Maduro about the possibility of deals in the energy sector. The crisis in fuel supply and demand created by the war between Russia and Ukraine has accelerated Washington’s need to seek new trading partners.

:: Without Guaidó, what is left for the US and Venezuela to restart relations?::

In November, the U.S. also granted a license allowing Chevron to resume operations in Venezuelan territory. However, after the results of the US and Venezuelan midterm elections and the end of the “interim government” of former Vice President Juan Guaido, relations between Washington and Caracas appear to be stagnating once again.

The White House has yet to recognize Maduro as president and is putting the results on the table for talks between the government and the opposition as requirements for suspending other sanctions. Venezuela, on the other hand, says it is ready to resume relations and resume negotiations with the West, but refuses to accept licenses that do not allow cash payments for its oil and gas exports.

Editing: Rodrigo Durão Coelho