Luis Alejandro Ruiz - Guacamaya

Trump proclaims Venezuela a“new friend and partner” under Delcy Rodríguez as Enrique Márquez visits the White House

Luis Alejandro Ruiz3 months ago3 months ago016 mins

He stressed that Washington is working “very closely” with interim president Delcy Rodríguez to unlock “extraordinary economic benefits for both countries” and to bring “new hope to those who have suffered so terribly.” Central to that renewed relationship, Trump underscored, is energy cooperation. He announced that more than 80 million barrels of Venezuelan crude had recently entered the U.S. market. One of the most unexpected moments of the address came when Enrique Márquez—former presidential candidate and leader of the Centrados party—was introduced in the chamber. Márquez had spent a year imprisoned at El Helicoide, headquarters of Venezuela’s intelligence service. Trump invited him to stand and celebrate his freedom, as cameras captured an emotional embrace with his niece.

Which actors are shaping the configuration of Venezuela’s oil market in recent weeks?

Luis Alejandro Ruiz3 months ago3 months ago013 mins

Venezuela’s oil industry is undergoing a period of reconfiguration marked by a partial increase in domestic refining, new U.S. licenses that are energizing exports and gas projects, the return of supertankers to its terminals, expectations of foreign investment, India’s presence in light of the agreement with the United States, challenges stemming from past debts, the IMF’s interest, and prospects for economic reactivation in the country’s oil-producing regions.

Who are the new figures appointed to the Foreign Ministry for Delcy Rodríguez’s diplomatic strategy?

Luis Alejandro Ruiz3 months ago3 months ago017 mins

Delcy Rodríguez announced the appointment of four new vice ministers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, covering key areas such…

UNDP survey: Venezuelans favor agreements and reject violence despite deep tensions

Luis Alejandro Ruiz3 months ago3 months ago012 mins

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Venezuela has released the results of the survey “What Unites Us: The Voice of Venezuelans on Dialogue and Coexistence,” conducted between November and December 2025. Based on face-to-face interviews with 1,295 adults from socio-economic strata C, D, and E, the report offers a detailed snapshot of social cohesion in the country. It concludes that Venezuela is neither a fully cohesive nor a completely fractured society: significant social assets coexist with deep tensions.

Francisco Rodríguez es un reconocido economista y académico venezolano. Hoy se desempeña como investigador principal en el CEPR y profesor afiliado en la Universidad de Denver. Fotografía: Arnaldo Espinoza.

Interview with Francisco Rodríguez: “I Fear That Venezuelan Politicians Will Begin to Specialize in Lobbying in Washington, Disconnected from the Problems of Their People”

Luis Alejandro Ruiz3 months ago3 months ago090 mins

Francisco Rodríguez is a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) and an Affiliate Professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver.

Qatari Prime Minister arrives in Venezuela amid diplomatic and energy maneuvers

Luis Alejandro Ruiz3 months ago3 months ago012 mins

The visit of the Qatari head of government comes at a time of political and economic reconfiguration in Venezuela, with Doha consolidating its role as an intermediary between Caracas and Washington while expanding its global profile as a conflict mediator.

Lawmakers from the Freedom Parliamentary Group hold public consultation on Amnesty Law in Venezuela

Luis Alejandro Ruiz3 months ago3 months ago09 mins

During a public consultation organized by the Freedom Parliamentary Group at the Center for Political and Government Studies, lawmakers, experts, and civil society organizations discussed adjustments to the amnesty bill, with emphasis on the release of political prisoners, the need for judicial guarantees, and the protection of adolescents.

Venezuela reopens the oil tap: Repsol to receive crude as Shell advances gas plans and ConocoPhillips keeps its distance

Luis Alejandro Ruiz3 months ago3 months ago011 mins

Two million barrels of Venezuelan oil will be shipped to the Spanish oil company Repsol, according to export schedules released this week. This is the first significant shipment destined for Spain. Meanwhile, Shell says it expects to produce gas from the Dragón field, located in Venezuelan waters, within approximately three years, with processing in Trinidad and Tobago for subsequent export. The American oil company ConocoPhillips, however, has made it clear that it is not considering any return to operations in Venezuela

Zapatero returns to Venezuela amid an amnesty Law and a new reconfiguration between Washington and Caracas

Luis Alejandro Ruiz3 months ago3 months ago08 mins

Zapatero will meet with acting president Delcy Rodríguez and will also hold meetings with opposition lawmakers and leaders, including Henrique Capriles, Stalin González, former political prisoner Enrique Márquez, and Antonio Ecarri. He is coming from participating in a joint initiative with Zapatero, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Qatar, which led to a significant wave of prisoner releases.

Which refineries have shown interest in and purchased Venezuelan oil after the geopolitical shift?

Luis Alejandro Ruiz4 months ago4 months ago06 mins

U.S. refineries and major international buyers, including Indian companies and global trading houses, have resumed purchases of Venezuelan crude following the easing of sanctions and new energy agreements driven by Washington and Caracas. The reopening of oil flows is already beginning to be reflected in refining margins and in Venezuela’s repositioning in the global market.