Laura Dogu, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the United States in Venezuela, is leaving her post after less than three months in Caracas. She will be replaced by career diplomat John Barrett, who arrives from Guatemala.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued two general licenses that could help reintegrate Venezuela into the international banking system and allow foreign contractors to enter the country.
Energy giants Chevron and Shell are strategically positioning themselves to maximize opportunities in Venezuela following a largely unprecedented asset swap involving government participation.
Venezuela’s hydrocarbon sector is undergoing a phase of reactivation marked by a sustained increase in exports to the United States, the gradual return of interest from major international oil companies, and an intense diplomatic agenda aimed at unlocking energy projects. However, this renewed dynamism coexists with regulatory delays, unresolved disputes, and a still fragile financial environment that conditions the real pace of investment.
In an extensive address to the nation, acting president Delcy Rodríguez outlined a roadmap for income recovery, state asset management, and foreign exchange stabilization following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January, emphasizing what she described as a major economic shift.
That morning, a dear friend, sharing her joy over Venezuela’s victory in the World Baseball Championship, told me: “These are the grandchildren of the heroes of ’41.”
Just under a month before the upcoming May 1st, Workers’ Day, expectations are growing regarding possible adjustments to labor income in Venezuela.
