In another lifting of its restrictions, the US issued two general licenses: one allows five large companies to carry out hydrocarbon operations in the South American country and the other allows companies from around the world to negotiate new investments with the state-owned PDVSA. The new era between Washington and Caracas adds signs: Washington sent more than 6 tons of medicines and Donald Trump announced a future visit.
First modification: 02/14/2026 - 02:50
Although the framework of US sanctions on Venezuela – which was tightened especially since 2019 – remains in force, Washington continues to soften its content with measures that enable operations in the Venezuelan energy sector for foreign companies.
In one of the most significant movements since it began to soften punishments after the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, the Treasury Department issued two new licenses that expand the capabilities of large oil companies to operate hydrocarbon projects in Venezuela.
The first of the measures announced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) authorizes the American company Chevron, the British BP and Shell, the Italian Eni and the Spanish Repsol to carry out transactions related to oil and gas projects with the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) or any other Venezuelan public entity.
This permission, however, requires that any contract be linked to US jurisdiction and that the payment of Venezuelan royalties and taxes be made through the Foreign Government Deposit Fund, controlled by the United States. If there are payments to individuals or entities for which OFAC sanctions remain, they must be made to accounts designated by the US Treasury.
The second license, meanwhile, enables companies from around the world to negotiate and sign contracts with PDVSA for new investments in Venezuelan oil and gas, although each contract will depend on the granting of specific permits from OFAC.
This second measure also clarifies that transactions with people or companies linked to Russia, Iran, China or North Korea or with vessels subject to US sanctions are not permitted.
In its statement, the State Department said the licenses "invite U.S. and other like-minded businesses to play a constructive role in supporting economic recovery and responsible investment."
A spokesperson for Chevron, the only US oil company with operations in Venezuela, said that "the new General Licenses, along with recent changes to Venezuela's Hydrocarbons Law, are important steps to enable greater development of Venezuela's resources for its population and to promote regional energy security."
According to US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, who concluded his visit to Venezuela yesterday, another US firm, Exxon Mobil, is in dialogue with the Venezuelan government and collecting data from the oil sector to decide whether to invest again in the South American country.
That company is one of those that has objections to President Donald Trump's call to invest since in 2007, the Government of then-President Hugo Chávez expropriated its assets in Venezuela, as well as those of ConocoPhillips. In a White House meeting last month, Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods had called Venezuela "investable" at this point.
On the other hand, the announced changes will allow companies such as Repsol and Eni to evaluate large-scale oil development to expand the important operations they already have in the gas field and the marginal production of crude oil that they carry out through joint ventures with local state entities.
While Eni stated that it is evaluating the opportunities that open up with this new authorization, Repsol's CEO, Josu Jon Imaz, had already anticipated in the meeting with Trump at the White House last month that the Spanish company was willing to "invest heavily in Venezuela" and multiply its crude oil production in that country by three.
Read alsoThe visit of a Trump secretary to Venezuela anticipates the end of the oil embargo
The US sends more than 6 tons of medicines to Venezuela
More symbolic but no less important for the new spirit of ties between the United States and Venezuela is the arrival this Friday, February 13, of more than 6 tons of medicines and supplies for the Venezuelan health system, hit by years of crisis in the country.
The shipment was received at the Maiquetía international airport, on the outskirts of Caracas, by the United States chargé d'affaires in the Venezuelan capital, Laura Dogu, and by the diplomatic representative of Venezuela on American soil, Félix Plasencia.
"It is very important to stabilize Venezuela's health system," stressed Dogu, who added that this is "the first of many donations" that will arrive "in the coming days."
For his part, Plasencia explained that the supplies will be destined for the network of outpatient hospitals and highlighted that the donation is "a message of cooperation between two sovereign countries." "We are doing what is best for our people," he said.
This renewed relationship between Washington and Caracas, whose parameters are dictated by the Trump Administration, also opens paths in other sectors. For example, American Airlines reported on Friday that it submitted a request to the Department of Transportation to operate flights from Miami to Caracas and Maracaibo through its regional subsidiary Envoy.
The order is possible because last month, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy rescinded a 2019 order that prohibited US airlines from flying to Venezuela. American Airlines is awaiting government approval and safety assessments to resume service to the South American country for the first time in more than six years.
Read alsoUS announces shipment of more than 6 tons of medical supplies to Venezuela
Trump says he will visit Venezuela, but does not specify a date
After the interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, stated that she has received an invitation to travel to the United States, Donald Trump doubled down and assured that he will visit the South American country, although he did not give any specific date.
It was a half-confirmation, true to Trump's style, during an informal exchange with reporters at the White House. In those brief statements, the Republican reiterated his praise for Rodríguez, saying that he is doing a "very, very good job."
Likewise, when asked by a Reuters reporter about whether Washington recognizes Rodríguez's Executive as the official government of Venezuela, Trump responded: "We have done it, we are working with them and so far they have done a great job."
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Her statements go contrary to the position expressed by US officials in recent weeks – the most recent, Wright himself, in an interview with NBC published yesterday – who have indicated that Washington does not consider the government of the president in charge to be legitimate.
After speaking with journalists, Trump left for North Carolina to participate in a meeting with members of the special forces who participated in the military raid in which Nicolás Maduro was arrested and transferred to the United States.
In front of soldiers and their families at Fort Bragg, one of the world's military bases, Trump boasted that, on January 3, "the whole world saw what all the military power" of the United States can do and maintained that, for that reason, its potential enemies "fear" them.
After delving into details of the operation that, according to him, "was a matter of minutes," the Republican president highlighted an alleged secret American development used in the incursion, which, according to his version, caused the Venezuelan troops to "never manage to shoot" and left "Russian" and "Chinese" equipment out of operation.
"Everyone's trying to figure out why it didn't work. Someday they'll find out, but it didn't work. It's nice to be able to fly without getting shot at," he said.
Read alsoMore oil, fewer sanctions and an early meeting: Venezuela and the US now aim for good harmony
With EFE, Reuters and AP
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