The Chavista minister Diosdado Cabello, who was the right-hand man of the former dictator Nicolás Maduro, modified his discourse on the relationship between Venezuela and the United States and now celebrated the energy agreement reached with Washington, which he presented as compatible with the historical tenets of Hugo Chávez.
The Chavista leader defended the understanding during the latest broadcast of his program Con el Mazo Dando and stated that the goal is to take advantage of the country's oil resources under the conditions established by Venezuelan legislation.
The stance represents a marked contrast to his previous statements about the fate of Venezuelan oil. Months ago, Cabello had claimed that not “a drop” of crude would go to the United States.
Now, however, he justified the energy partnership with Washington and highlighted the economic benefits it could generate for the country.
In his program, the minister asserted that the recent agreement “complies with the guidelines of Commander Hugo Chávez,” something that is completely false.
Cabello detailed that the oil pact includes favorable royalty and tax regimes and projected revenues exceeding 100 billion dollars for Venezuela over the next 25 years.
Diosdado Cabello
For the socialist leader, these financial projections support the argument that the agreement responds to a sovereign development objective.
In his explanation, Cabello appealed to a strictly pragmatic criterion to justify greater exploitation of Venezuelan oil resources. “We have the oil, but we have it buried, and buried it doesn’t help us,” he stated.
The phrase exposes the change in tone regarding his previous criticisms of the relationship with the United States. While at that time he had argued that Venezuelan crude should not be sent to the North American country, he now maintains that the exploitation and commercialization of the resource are necessary to generate income and stimulate the economy.
Donald Trump and Diosdado Cabello
"Respecting the Constitution, the laws, the hydrocarbons law, as well as its reforms and the investment framework approved in the Constituent Assembly, we are doing everything within the law,” he specified.
From his current position, Cabello presented the energy agreement as a tool to promote stability and economic growth in Venezuela.
His statements went viral on social media due to the unusual argumentative twist of the Chavista official and the way he now champions an energy agreement with the United States.
