China-Venezuela oil trade

US Pays El Salvador to Imprison Deportées in Prisoner Swap Deal with Venezuela

El Salvador’s President Bukele proposed a prisoner exchange with Venezuela: 252 Venezuelan deportees held in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center would be repatriated in exchange for the release of an equal number of Venezuelan political prisoners. This offer, made via social media, includes nearly 50 prisoners of other nationalities. The proposal follows recent mass deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members from the US to El Salvador under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a move condemned by Maduro as human rights abuse. Venezuela’s chief prosecutor criticized the offer, questioning the legal processes afforded the deportees.

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Trump Threatens Tariffs on Venezuela Oil Buyers: A Self-Inflicted Economic Wound?

President Trump announced a 25% tariff on all U.S. trade with countries purchasing Venezuelan oil and gas, effective April 2nd. This action, targeting China, the largest importer of Venezuelan crude, aims to pressure President Maduro and potentially benefit Chevron by limiting Chinese influence in Venezuela’s oil sector. The tariffs follow Trump’s reversal of a Biden administration decision allowing Chevron to operate in Venezuela and his invocation of the Alien Enemies Act against the Tren de Aragua gang. Oil prices are expected to rise as a result of the new tariffs.

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