On Thursday, three prominent Cuban-American lawmakers in Washington—Carlos Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart, and María Elvira Salazar—chose not to criticize President Donald Trump after his administration permitted the oil company Chevron to resume crude extraction operations in Venezuela. This move signals an unexpected political shift toward Nicolás Maduro's regime.
Instead of questioning Trump's apparent policy reversal, the three legislators shared an identical message on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), lauding the president as a steadfast leader against authoritarian regimes in the Western Hemisphere. They assured that the Chavista regime "will not benefit" from this development. The synchronized nature of their message has sparked criticism, particularly since it was Trump himself who, just months ago, ordered Chevron's exit from Venezuela and revoked concessions granted by the Biden administration.
"There is no greater friend to the Venezuelan people's cause for freedom than President Trump," the three lawmakers reiterated, offering no explanation for their leader's abrupt shift in stance toward Chavismo.
From Revoking Licenses to Reopening Business
Chevron's resumption of operations in Venezuela represents a rollback of sanctions that the U.S. President had imposed earlier this year. Back in March, the Treasury Department mandated a complete halt of Chevron's activities with PDVSA, giving the company a month to exit the country. This decision was applauded by those who view Maduro as an illegitimate dictator and by critics who warned against subsidized crude shipments from Venezuela to political allies like Cuba.
The new license granted to Chevron is seen as an effort to balance U.S. energy priorities with regional migration and geopolitical tensions, amidst pressures to lower oil prices and bolster energy security. According to press reports, the agreement was directly negotiated by senior officials in the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
State Department spokespeople have asserted that Maduro's regime "will not benefit" from the new license, though they have not clarified how this assurance will be practically enforced.
Key Questions About Chevron's Operations in Venezuela
Why are Cuban-American lawmakers not criticizing Trump's decision?
The lawmakers have chosen to support Trump's leadership against authoritarian regimes in the Western Hemisphere, despite the apparent policy shift. They have not provided further explanations for their stance.
What does Chevron's new license entail?
The new license allows Chevron to resume crude extraction operations in Venezuela, reversing previous sanctions. It aims to balance U.S. energy priorities with regional geopolitical and migration concerns.
How will the U.S. ensure Maduro's regime does not benefit?
While State Department representatives insist that Maduro's regime will not benefit, they have not specified the mechanisms to enforce this assurance.