Marco Rubio confirmed a shocking piece of news for Nicolás Maduro's dictatorship

The license allowing Chevron to operate in Venezuela will expire next Tuesday, May 27, according to the announcement by the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, through a post on his personal X account.

This decision contradicts the statements of special envoy Richard Grenell, who had indicated that a 60-day extension would be granted to the American oil company.

The divergent stance reflects some differences of opinion within the government team of President Donald Trump on how to handle relations with the regime of Nicolás Maduro.

Rubio, a staunch opponent of the Venezuelan government, called the license an unnecessary benefit for Maduro, promoted during the administration of Joe Biden. The senator did not mention the recent negotiations between Grenell and Venezuelan officials on the Caribbean island of Antigua, which culminated in the release of an American citizen detained for months in Venezuela.

The expiration of the license will jeopardize Chevron's operations in Maduro's regime. The American company has been a key player in the modest recovery of Venezuelan oil production, representing approximately 20% of the total. Additionally, Chevron has contributed to the country's foreign exchange income through crude exports.

Although Grenell had assured that the extension was imminent following his diplomatic meeting, sources close to the State Department confirmed that the United States officially opposes extending the license, a decision supported by the Treasury Department.

The scenario is further complicated by operational issues: in April, the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA canceled crude shipments to Chevron due to payment disputes.

Although an extension of the permit would not automatically mean the resumption of exports to the United States, the lack of resolution on payment issues prevents Chevron from accessing new oil shipments.

The decision not to extend the license also takes place in the context of the Venezuelan electoral process, with local elections scheduled for Sunday. The ruling party is expected to strengthen its dominance, while the opposition is divided between participating or boycotting the process.

Meanwhile, the financial market reacted moderately to the news. Venezuelan defaulted bonds maturing in 2031 fell slightly, trading near 19 cents on the dollar, without reaching historical lows.

 

The internal disagreement within Trump's team is evident among the harder-line sectors, represented by Rubio, and figures like Grenell, who advocate for a pragmatic and transactional relationship with the Chavista regime.