The usual colonial imperialist policy

U.S. President Trump’s policies seem like a step “back to the 19th century.” Trump’s “deal” now secures more than 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves in Venezuela for the U.S. But who are the partners in this deal? According to Trump, Venezuela’s current president has agreed to it. But who is the buyer, and who was the seller?

The fact that the U.S. government is supposed to have a stake in another country’s oil fields is highly unusual, even the Tagesschau news program notes, expressing skepticism: “Does this mean a sale? Or is it a transfer of title? And how can oil reserves actually be transferred to another country and to private companies at the same time?”

The official line is that part of the proceeds goes to the U.S. and the other part to Venezuela. The condition remains that Venezuela must seek approval from the U.S. before making any expenditures, even in the difficult situation following the earthquake. The Financial Times reports that the U.S. has so far earned $13 billion from the sale of Venezuelan oil. It is also unknown what this money may be used for.

Venezuela is also demanding that the United Kingdom release approximately 31 metric tons of gold, valued at an estimated four billion dollars, to cover earthquake-related damages. However, the Bank of England has refused for years to return the gold, arguing that it does not recognize the Maduro government. In doing so, it cites a 2022 ruling by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, which ruled in 2022 that the Venezuelan Central Bank’s (BCV) gold reserves stored in London must be handed over to opposition leader Juan Guaidó.

President Trump would certainly consider it a good deal if Venezuela’s gold reserves were transferred to the U.S. Both of these “deals” are reminiscent of the worst events from the colonial era at the end of the 19th century. There is no longer any trace of the much-vaunted Western community of values; all that remains is a lust for power, exploitation of the Global South, and mafia-like tactics ...

Read more https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/gold-venezuela-fordert-milliardenreserven-von-bank-of-england-zurueck/100246956.html
and https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/amerika/venezuela-oel-faq-100.html

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