Venezuela

The US has initiated a major sanctions relief program targeting Venezuela's oil and mining sectors to boost global supply. The US broadly authorized transactions with PDVSA, eased oil sanctions, and brokered a major gold deal with the state mining company. Exxon and ConocoPhillips are evaluating opportunities, with the latter's CEO calling for fiscal rewiring to attract investment.

• 3Exxon says its team is in Venezuela evaluating oil opportunities
• 3Venezuela to ensure security of mining companies, exceed oil production goals, US Interior Secretary says
• 2How a Dirty Money Trail From Venezuela to Iran Brought Down a Swiss Bank
• 2White House says US seeking fertiliser from Venezuela, Morocco
• 2Venezuela's PDVSA ratifies Asdrubal Chavez as head of US units including Citgo

Political power is being consolidated by the interim president through sweeping military reforms and dismissals, while former President Maduro faces US drug charges in New York. The interim president replaced top military commanders and Delcy Rodríguez dismissed the powerful defense minister. Concurrently, the US and Venezuela agreed to restore diplomatic relations, formally reopening the US embassy.

• 34Venezuela's Maduro appears in New York court on drug charges
• 6US, Venezuela agree to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations
• 6Venezuelan opposition leader announces she will return home in coming weeks
• 5Venezuela interim president replaces top military commanders in sweeping reforms
• 4Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez dismisses powerful defense minister

The security state is hardening with a major military reset and the deployment of new surveillance technology, coinciding with the detention of a prominent oil tycoon. Venezuela replaced its defense chief and deployed robot dogs for patrols in Caracas. Police also held oil tycoon Ruperti.

• 2US seeks former Green Beret over 2020 Venezuela coup attempt
• 2The United States deported migrants to Iran and Venezuela despite plans for military interventions - EL PAÍS English
• 2Argentine gendarme freed from Venezuelan detention returns home
• 1Maduro issues first message from US custody after January abduction
• 1Venezuela deploys robotic dogs for patrols in Caracas

Public discontent over economic hardship is manifesting in paralyzing strikes and protests against extremely low wages. An unprecedented transport strike paralyzed Caracas, followed by protests against low wages. Concurrently, lawyers and activists continue to fight for political prisoners amid UN reports of torture.

• 2Unprecedented transport strike paralyzes Caracas
• 2UN human rights chief reports torture of prisoners in Venezuela
• 1Ex-Kirchnerist governor linked to propaganda operation for Delcy Rodríguez
• 1Venezuelans protest against extremely low wages
• 1Lawyers, mothers and activists fight for political prisoners in Venezuela