Biden to ease Venezuelan sanctions if they commit to fair elections.

This author has said it once, and he’ll say it again: America’s enemies have⁢ a⁤ best friend‍ in President Joe Biden.

The latest⁤ evidence ⁤proving that statement can ⁤be found in⁣ his administration’s purported plan to ease​ Venezuelan sanctions in exchange for⁢ the Maduro government’s pinky promise to hold⁤ free elections‌ next year.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg reported ⁣that the U.S. government and Venezuela are close to ⁢finalizing the deal:‌ Biden and co. ‌will lift sanctions on oil drilling ⁤and banking⁤ — but only after socialist dictator Nicolas ⁤Maduro and⁤ his gang announce democratic reforms.

This could allow Venezuela access to ​upwards of $3 billion⁤ frozen ⁤in European banks while enriching the government’s pockets due‌ to the country’s natural resources. These sanctions were imposed on the Latin American ‍nation by former ⁣President Donald Trump in 2019. Maduro ​is notoriously‍ corrupt. It stands to reason that he will ​be made richer once these sanctions are lifted.

If ⁤you haven’t noticed, the Biden administration seems intent on undoing Trump’s foreign policy — even if it rewards ⁤America’s adversaries. (See: ‍Iran.)

Of course, it’s unclear how ​seriously Maduro’s commitment to “free and fair”‍ elections​ should be taken.

In July 2022, ‌Elliott ​Abrams, the U.S. Department of​ State’s special representative to ‍Venezuela, warned, ‌“The conditions for⁢ free‍ and fair elections are actually much worse​ today than​ they were in May 2018, when Maduro held the presidential elections that democracies all over ⁢the world have said were fraudulent.”

Maduro‌ has claimed ⁣that 2018 was⁢ a fair election — despite the ⁤evidence to⁤ the contrary. He’s not fooling anybody, ​except the Biden administration.

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One Republican who has spent years warning against alleviating sanctions is Senator Marco‍ Rubio (R-FL).

As recently as September 2023, Rubio wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary‌ of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet ⁢Yellen.

“Any sanctions that would benefit⁤ the Venezuelan regime, ‌as well ‍as ‍on [Petróleos de Venezuela], ⁢oil production, or refinement, ​or infusing​ Chinese cash into the Maduro regime is a direct threat against⁢ U.S. national security interests and the ‌safety and wellbeing of our region,” Rubio said recently.

Rubio​ stressed Maduro is not ‍to be trusted.

“The regime’s political⁤ and economic⁣ mismanagement ‍has caused the largest refugee crisis in the world, which⁢ has driven more than 7 million Venezuelans to​ flee their homeland,” he added. “To make things worse, the narco-regime continues⁤ to fund terrorist‌ organizations in neighboring Colombia as well as fomenting⁢ instability and serving as sponsors of a major international drug trafficking ring ⁢that contributes to the growing opioid⁣ epidemic in our country.”

Biden has‍ made it ⁤a habit to engage in dialogue‌ with Maduro by easing sanctions.

In 2022, Rubio blasted Biden for his appeasement.

“President Biden claims to support democracy and ⁣human ⁣rights, but his​ foreign⁣ policy strategy is actually built​ around appeasement and giving concessions to dictators,” Rubio said in ‍May 2022.

“Simply put, President Biden is strengthening illegitimate, corrupt regimes in our‍ hemisphere that ⁤undermine‍ American national security,” he added.

This ⁢latest report also comes as the Biden administration openly brags about slowing down U.S. oil production. ⁣Venezuela’s oil production? ⁣Go right ahead, Maduro,⁢ just ensure it’s a so-called fair election⁣ — what⁢ does that mean exactly?

Well, at home, the GOP frontrunner is facing lawfare ⁢via ⁤a⁣ litany of‌ arguably bogus indictments — which should⁣ give you ‍an⁣ idea as​ to how seriously Biden takes making⁣ sure elections are free and ⁤fair.

America last, indeed.

The ‍views ⁤expressed in this piece are the ⁢author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

What are the reasons behind Marco Rubio’s opposition to investment into the Venezuelan economy?

‍Investment‌ into the Venezuelan economy, ‌should be ‌vigorously opposed,” ⁤Rubio⁢ ⁣stated in‌ the letter.

He pointed out ⁤‌that Maduro’s regime has consistently ​violated agreements and promises in the​ past, ⁢⁣and‌ ​lifting sanctions without ⁢verifiable reforms would only serve to ⁤empower⁣ and enrich ⁢the dictator and his cronies.

Rubio’s ​concerns are well-founded. ⁤The⁤ Maduro⁢ regime⁤ has been responsible for ⁢widespread ⁤human rights abuses, ⁣corruption, ⁡and economic mismanagement. The people of ⁣Venezuela have suffered greatly⁤ under his‌ rule, ⁣with ⁣millions ‍forced to flee the country ⁤due to ⁡poverty, ⁤violence, ⁤and lack of basic ⁤necessities‌. ‌Easing sanctions without ⁣substantial⁣ guarantees ‍of democratic⁢ reforms will only perpetuate the suffering of the Venezuelan people.

Furthermore, Biden’s approach ⁣to ⁣Venezuela raises questions about‌ the administration’s overall stance ⁡toward ​oppressive regimes ⁣and human rights abuses ⁣worldwide. If the U.S. is ‌willing to negotiate with ⁣and potentially ‌lift sanctions ⁣on​ a dictator​ like Maduro, it sends a troubling message ‍to other authoritarian‌ leaders that​ they may not face‍ consequences for their actions.‌ It undermines ‍the credibility of the U.S. as‌ a global defender ⁢of⁣ democracy ‍and human rights.

Additionally, the potential lifting of⁤ sanctions could have ⁤negative ​implications for regional ⁢stability. Venezuela’s ⁤government has been involved⁤ in ⁢destabilizing⁤ ⁣activities⁤ ⁣across Latin America, ⁣supporting ⁢repressive⁣ regimes ⁣and‍ insurgencies‍ in ⁡countries like ⁣⁣Cuba, ⁡Nicaragua, ⁡and‌ Bolivia. Allowing the⁢ Venezuelan ⁢regime⁢ ⁤access⁢ to⁣ billions⁢ of dollars ‍could further enable ⁢these ⁢destabilizing ⁤actions, ⁣posing a threat to the security and⁢ stability ​of the⁤ region.

The Biden administration ‍should reconsider its ⁢approach ⁤to⁠ Venezuela. The Maduro regime⁢ cannot be trusted to⁣ fulfill its​ promises of ⁢democratic⁤ reforms, ⁢and⁢ lifting sanctions without ⁣substantial guarantees⁣ ⁣would ⁢only ⁡strengthen ⁢a corrupt dictatorship. The U.S. must ⁤demonstrate a firm commitment ⁢to⁠ defending democracy ⁣and ‌human rights, even in the face ​of difficult choices. Allowing ⁢America’s enemies⁢ to benefit from ⁢lenient policies only undermines our own interests and values.