State Dept. Consults With Senate Foreign Relations Staff on Venezuela Sanctions Policy

Senior State Department official Brian Nichols met with staff members from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Dec. 6 to seek their input on U.S. sanctions policy toward Venezuela, according to a State Department spokesperson.

The Biden administration eased sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gold sector in October after the country’s government and opposition formally agreed to work together to ensure the next presidential election is free and fair (see 2310180070). Congressional Republicans, however, opposed the move, saying Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro wouldn't live up to his promises (see 2311150017). The lawmakers later said that Maduro's decision to cancel the opposition party’s primary election results confirmed their suspicions.

Speaking during an Atlantic Council event on Dec. 5 one day before he met with Senate staffers, Nichols said there have been “some encouraging developments” since Venezuela's government and opposition reached their agreement but that the Maduro government has not implemented all of its commitments. The Biden administration continues to engage with Maduro representatives and the opposition and will review its sanctions policy to determine if any changes are warranted, said Nichols, the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs.

“We will suspend sanctions relief if we determine that adequate progress has not been made,” Nichols said.