Venezuela’s Machado doesn’t regret gifting Nobel Peace Prize to Trump
By AFP
April 18, 2026
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says Trump deserved her Nobel medal for 'risking' American lives to oust strongman Nicolas Maduro - Copyright AFP Giuseppe CACACE
Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on Saturday “I have no regrets” about symbolically handing over her Nobel Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump back in January.
“There is a leader in the world, a head of state in the world who risked the lives of his country’s citizens for Venezuela’s freedom,” she told a news conference in Madrid.
Machado presented her Nobel prize to Trump when she met him in the White House just two weeks after he ordered US forces to attack Caracas and snatch Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Trump, who has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize, is currently embroiled in the Middle East war he started with his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with airstrikes on Iran at the end of February.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the peace prize, made clear after Machado handed her 2025 Nobel medal to Trump that the actual honour it represents “cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others”.
Machado said that Trump’s military operation to snatch Maduro, who is currently detained in New York facing US drug charges, “is something we Venezuelans will never forget”.
“Consequently,” she said, “no, I have no regrets” about gifting her Nobel medal to Trump.
Machado, who was in hiding before leaving Venezuela in December to collect her Nobel prize in Oslo, said she was organising her return to the country in coordination with Washington.
“I am speaking with the US government, and we are working in coordination, with mutual respect and understanding,” she said.
She added that she believed that Washington was “key to advancing a democratic transition” in Venezuela.
Venezuela’s opposition last week called for presidential elections.
Machado, who has not yet said if she would run in a future poll, was banned from running for president in the 2024 election that resulted with Maduro claiming a reelection victory.
By AFP
April 18, 2026
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado says Trump deserved her Nobel medal for 'risking' American lives to oust strongman Nicolas Maduro - Copyright AFP Giuseppe CACACE
Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on Saturday “I have no regrets” about symbolically handing over her Nobel Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump back in January.
“There is a leader in the world, a head of state in the world who risked the lives of his country’s citizens for Venezuela’s freedom,” she told a news conference in Madrid.
Machado presented her Nobel prize to Trump when she met him in the White House just two weeks after he ordered US forces to attack Caracas and snatch Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Trump, who has long coveted the Nobel Peace Prize, is currently embroiled in the Middle East war he started with his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with airstrikes on Iran at the end of February.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which awards the peace prize, made clear after Machado handed her 2025 Nobel medal to Trump that the actual honour it represents “cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred to others”.
Machado said that Trump’s military operation to snatch Maduro, who is currently detained in New York facing US drug charges, “is something we Venezuelans will never forget”.
“Consequently,” she said, “no, I have no regrets” about gifting her Nobel medal to Trump.
Machado, who was in hiding before leaving Venezuela in December to collect her Nobel prize in Oslo, said she was organising her return to the country in coordination with Washington.
“I am speaking with the US government, and we are working in coordination, with mutual respect and understanding,” she said.
She added that she believed that Washington was “key to advancing a democratic transition” in Venezuela.
Venezuela’s opposition last week called for presidential elections.
Machado, who has not yet said if she would run in a future poll, was banned from running for president in the 2024 election that resulted with Maduro claiming a reelection victory.
IMF, World Bank say restoring relations with Venezuela, recognizing interim government
ByAFP
April 16, 2026
Recognition of the Rodriguez government grants legitimacy and potentially unlocks new financial support, both from official sources and potentially from the private sector, an expert told AFP - Copyright AFP Kent NISHIMURA
Paul BLAKE
The IMF and World Bank said Thursday they are restoring relations with Venezuela, further legitimizing the interim government and opening new doors to financial support.
“Guided by the views of International Monetary Fund members representing a majority of the IMF’s total voting power, and consistent with long standing practice, the Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva today announced that the IMF is now dealing with the Government of Venezuela, under the administration of acting President Delcy Rodriguez,” it said in a statement.
Over recent days, the Fund polled its members on whether they saw Rodriguez as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
The World Bank quickly followed the Fund in recognizing the Rodriguez government, saying in a statement, “Guided by the outcome of the IMF’s polling process, the World Bank Group today announced that it is resuming dealings with the Government of Venezuela, under the administration of acting President Delcy RodrÃguez.”
Recognition of the Rodriguez government by both institutions paves the way them to formally begin economic data-gathering, provide technical advice, and to potentially offer financial support to the government, if Venezuela were to ask for it.
Relations between the financial institutions and Venezuela broke down in March 2019 when the Fund recognized the country’s opposition — which controlled parliament — as the legitimate government of the South American country.
Rodriguez was the country’s vice president until early January, when US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a shock overnight operation. Rodriguez was subsequently made interim president.
Since then, Washington has exerted heavy pressure on the country to open its economy to foreign investment — especially its energy sector.
“Trump frequently and publicly talks about how much he likes Delcy and how closely they’re working together,” Henry Ziemer at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington told AFP. “But the institutional recognition is, I think, an important next step — going beyond the personal to the institutional.”
“It’s important for Delcy’s appearance of legitimacy,” he said.
Beyond the funds that could now flow from the IMF and the World Bank, the institutional recognition could reassure foreign private investors who were anxious about taking bets on the country.
“I think as many green lights is good, I should say necessary for foreign direct investment to start flowing into Venezuela,” Ziemer said, while noting that the security situation was still fragile.
The announcement comes during the week-long IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings that has drawn thousands of government officials, economists, investors and observers to Washington.
Behind the scenes, the US has encouraged greater engagement with Venezuela under Rodriguez.
On Tuesday the US eased sanctions on the Venezuelan Central Bank, while on the same day US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previewed this decision, saying the Fund was “working on bringing Venezuela back in, to make it look more like a normal economy.”
Rodriguez, a veteran of the left-wing “Chavista” Venezuelan political movement, is the first woman to sit atop Venezuela’s government.
Her position over the long-term is not guaranteed, however.
Last week, Venezuela’s opposition called for fresh presidential elections, citing the country’s constitution.
ByAFP
April 16, 2026
Recognition of the Rodriguez government grants legitimacy and potentially unlocks new financial support, both from official sources and potentially from the private sector, an expert told AFP - Copyright AFP Kent NISHIMURA
Paul BLAKE
The IMF and World Bank said Thursday they are restoring relations with Venezuela, further legitimizing the interim government and opening new doors to financial support.
“Guided by the views of International Monetary Fund members representing a majority of the IMF’s total voting power, and consistent with long standing practice, the Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva today announced that the IMF is now dealing with the Government of Venezuela, under the administration of acting President Delcy Rodriguez,” it said in a statement.
Over recent days, the Fund polled its members on whether they saw Rodriguez as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
The World Bank quickly followed the Fund in recognizing the Rodriguez government, saying in a statement, “Guided by the outcome of the IMF’s polling process, the World Bank Group today announced that it is resuming dealings with the Government of Venezuela, under the administration of acting President Delcy RodrÃguez.”
Recognition of the Rodriguez government by both institutions paves the way them to formally begin economic data-gathering, provide technical advice, and to potentially offer financial support to the government, if Venezuela were to ask for it.
Relations between the financial institutions and Venezuela broke down in March 2019 when the Fund recognized the country’s opposition — which controlled parliament — as the legitimate government of the South American country.
Rodriguez was the country’s vice president until early January, when US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a shock overnight operation. Rodriguez was subsequently made interim president.
Since then, Washington has exerted heavy pressure on the country to open its economy to foreign investment — especially its energy sector.
“Trump frequently and publicly talks about how much he likes Delcy and how closely they’re working together,” Henry Ziemer at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington told AFP. “But the institutional recognition is, I think, an important next step — going beyond the personal to the institutional.”
“It’s important for Delcy’s appearance of legitimacy,” he said.
Beyond the funds that could now flow from the IMF and the World Bank, the institutional recognition could reassure foreign private investors who were anxious about taking bets on the country.
“I think as many green lights is good, I should say necessary for foreign direct investment to start flowing into Venezuela,” Ziemer said, while noting that the security situation was still fragile.
The announcement comes during the week-long IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings that has drawn thousands of government officials, economists, investors and observers to Washington.
Behind the scenes, the US has encouraged greater engagement with Venezuela under Rodriguez.
On Tuesday the US eased sanctions on the Venezuelan Central Bank, while on the same day US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent previewed this decision, saying the Fund was “working on bringing Venezuela back in, to make it look more like a normal economy.”
Rodriguez, a veteran of the left-wing “Chavista” Venezuelan political movement, is the first woman to sit atop Venezuela’s government.
Her position over the long-term is not guaranteed, however.
Last week, Venezuela’s opposition called for fresh presidential elections, citing the country’s constitution.
Repsol taking back control of Venezuelan oil assets
By AFP
April 16, 2026
Repsol said it is prepared to quickly increase oil production in Venezuela - Copyright AFP/File PHILIPPE DESMAZES
Spanish energy group Repsol said on Thursday it has reached an agreement with the Venezuelan government to regain control of its oil business in the country and sharply increase production over the coming years.
Repsol’s operations in Venezuela have been sharply limited since 2025 after Washington unilaterally revoked its operating license, a move that also affected other foreign companies in the country.
The deal will allow Repsol to resume operational control of its Petroquiriquire joint venture created to develop and operate oil fields in eastern Venezuela, the company said in a statement.
Repsol said it is prepared to increase gross oil production in the country — which currently averages some 45,000 barrels daily — by 50 percent within 12 months and potentially triple output within three years, provided “necessary conditions” are met.
“This agreement underscores Repsol’s commitment to Venezuela, where we have operated continuously since 1993,” the company’s head of exploration and production, Francisco Gea, said in a statement.
“We have the assets and the technical, operational, and human capabilities on the ground to increase our production in the country.”
The deal was signed between Repsol, Venezuela’s hydrocarbon ministry and Venezuela’s state oil and gas firm PDVSA, which owns 60 percent of the Petroquiriquire joint venture.
A new bonanza from Venezuela’s vast oil reserves has been touted after the United States captured its socialist strongman Nicolas Maduro in January in a lightning military operation on Caracas.
The new authorities, led by interim president Delcy Rodriguez, have cooperated with US President Donald Trump’s administration and introduced reforms to liberalise the sector.
The United States has eased a seven-year-old oil embargo on Venezuela and issued licenses allowing a handful of multinationals including Repsol to operate in the country under certain conditions.
US oil giant Chevron and the government of Venezuela signed two deals on Monday that will expand oil production in the country.
The possibility of increased Venezuelan oil output comes as global markets face disruptions to Middle East oil supplies from the conflict in Iran which have driven up oil prices.
Venezuela sits on the world largest proven oil reserves and the once-thriving sector helped make it one of Latin America’s wealthiest countries in the 20th century.
But production plummeted during two decades of socialist rule, with observers pointing to underinvestment, mismanagement and corruption, as the country plunged into a protracted political, social and economic crisis.
Speaking to AFP in Paris in February, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Venezuelan oil production was “a little bit less than a million barrels a day” in January.
But output could grow by 30 to 40 percent by the end of 2026 — “that’s a big deal,” he said.
By AFP
April 16, 2026
Repsol said it is prepared to quickly increase oil production in Venezuela - Copyright AFP/File PHILIPPE DESMAZES
Spanish energy group Repsol said on Thursday it has reached an agreement with the Venezuelan government to regain control of its oil business in the country and sharply increase production over the coming years.
Repsol’s operations in Venezuela have been sharply limited since 2025 after Washington unilaterally revoked its operating license, a move that also affected other foreign companies in the country.
The deal will allow Repsol to resume operational control of its Petroquiriquire joint venture created to develop and operate oil fields in eastern Venezuela, the company said in a statement.
Repsol said it is prepared to increase gross oil production in the country — which currently averages some 45,000 barrels daily — by 50 percent within 12 months and potentially triple output within three years, provided “necessary conditions” are met.
“This agreement underscores Repsol’s commitment to Venezuela, where we have operated continuously since 1993,” the company’s head of exploration and production, Francisco Gea, said in a statement.
“We have the assets and the technical, operational, and human capabilities on the ground to increase our production in the country.”
The deal was signed between Repsol, Venezuela’s hydrocarbon ministry and Venezuela’s state oil and gas firm PDVSA, which owns 60 percent of the Petroquiriquire joint venture.
A new bonanza from Venezuela’s vast oil reserves has been touted after the United States captured its socialist strongman Nicolas Maduro in January in a lightning military operation on Caracas.
The new authorities, led by interim president Delcy Rodriguez, have cooperated with US President Donald Trump’s administration and introduced reforms to liberalise the sector.
The United States has eased a seven-year-old oil embargo on Venezuela and issued licenses allowing a handful of multinationals including Repsol to operate in the country under certain conditions.
US oil giant Chevron and the government of Venezuela signed two deals on Monday that will expand oil production in the country.
The possibility of increased Venezuelan oil output comes as global markets face disruptions to Middle East oil supplies from the conflict in Iran which have driven up oil prices.
Venezuela sits on the world largest proven oil reserves and the once-thriving sector helped make it one of Latin America’s wealthiest countries in the 20th century.
But production plummeted during two decades of socialist rule, with observers pointing to underinvestment, mismanagement and corruption, as the country plunged into a protracted political, social and economic crisis.
Speaking to AFP in Paris in February, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Venezuelan oil production was “a little bit less than a million barrels a day” in January.
But output could grow by 30 to 40 percent by the end of 2026 — “that’s a big deal,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment