By Zoila Palma: The United States has returned the full $500 million in proceeds from an initial Venezuelan oil sale to the Venezuelan government, a U.S. official said Tuesday.
The final $200 million installment was recently transferred, completing payments tied to a deal reached between Washington and Caracas last month.
The agreement followed the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation on January 3, Reuters report.
“Venezuela has officially received all $500 million from the first Venezuelan oil sale,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The funds, the official added, are to be disbursed “for the benefit of the Venezuelan people at the discretion of the U.S. government.”
The money had been held in Qatar in what was described as a temporary, short-term account to ensure Venezuela received the resources needed to continue operating.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week during testimony on Capitol Hill that U.S. involvement in the oil sale was intended as a short-term stabilization measure.
He said the arrangement allowed Venezuela to use revenue from its own oil to pay teachers, firefighters and police officers and to keep basic government functions running in order to avoid a systemic collapse.
The post International News: U.S. says it returned all $500 million from initial Venezuelan oil sale appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The United States has returned the full $500 million in proceeds from an initial Venezuelan oil sale to the Venezuelan government, a U.S. official said Tuesday. The final $200 million installment was recently transferred, completing payments tied to a deal reached between Washington and Caracas last month. The agreement followed the capture
The post International News: U.S. says it returned all $500 million from initial Venezuelan oil sale appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
