The U.S. has suspended some sanctions on Venezuela after free-election agreements

The US has suspended some oil embargoes against Venezuela. This is a reflection of an agreement reached earlier this week between President Maduro’s government and the opposition. The parties agreed to hold elections in the second half of next year, with international observers to ensure they are fair.

In 2019, US economic sanctions were imposed during the then President Trump regime. The relaxation allows Venezuela to decide for itself how much oil it exports and to which parties. The agreement is in principle valid for six months.

Secretary of State Blinken added that the United States expects the government to still give opposition candidates the chance to participate in the election. Many of them are still excluded. The US is also demanding the release of political prisoners and other Americans detained in the country.

The United States, the European Union, Canada and the United Kingdom previously said in a joint statement that a deal with the opposition was necessary to restore democracy in Venezuela.

The South American country’s economy has been in poor shape for years, one of the reasons millions of people have left. Many have gone to America.