
He adds that Russia doesn’t want to be pushed into a corner, but it will react if things get too heated in Venezuela.
WATCH BELOW: Intel chiefs say foreign influence in Venezuela likely to prolong instability. Rouvinski described Venezuela as an important Russian ally in the United States’ backyard, much like Ukraine has become an American ally under the shadow of Russia. Most of Putin’s old friends in the region are now gone, leaving Maduro and Venezuela as Russia’s last major foothold in Latin America.
(Reuters) - Venezuelan state-run oil company PDVSA is taking steps to remove at least two American executives from the board of directors of its U.S. refining subsidiary, Citgo Petroleum Corp, according to people close to the matter.
Esser was among a team of Citgo executives who met with U.S. officials last month in Washington amid efforts by Guaido and the U.S. government to appoint a new Citgo board of directors.
Venezuela’s Pemon, an indigenous people living along the border with Brazil, are determined to allow into the embattled country any foreign aid that may arrive, even if that means a showdown with Venezuelan security forces and the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
“If humanitarian aid arrives and is prevented from entering, we will suspend the entry of government trucks too,” said Angel Paez, a Pemon leader from the Akurimo territory of Gran Sabana.
Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA is telling customers of its oil joint ventures to deposit sales proceeds at an account it recently opened at Russia’s Gazprombank AO, according to sources and an internal document seen by Reuters on Saturday.
Even after a first round of financial sanctions in 2017, PDVSA’s joint ventures managed to keep bank accounts in the United States and Europe to receive oil-sales proceeds.
The Trump administration is sending more than 200 tons of humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan border in Colombia as early as Saturday as it increases pressure on embattled President Nicolas Maduro to give up power, according to a State Department email sent to Congress.
While the U.S. military has long supported civilian-led humanitarian assistance missions around the world, this is the first time they are being used to deploy aid for Venezuela.