Access to oil, geopolitical pressures: What is the US’ motive behind easing Venezuelan sanctions?

“Some things are missing here: the release of American hostages, committing to the defence of human rights, (and) committing to not continuing to violate human rights,” political analyst Oswaldo Ramirez Colina, director of ORC Consultants, told CNA.

The agreed deal on electoral guarantees had stopped short of Mr Maduro agreeing to reinstate opposition candidates who had been barred from public office. Three US citizens also remain wrongfully detained in Venezuela.

“I believe that the interest of the Biden administration with Venezuela is to keep it away from Iran mainly, secondly from Russia, (and) beyond that, China,” he added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov hosted his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil Pinto in Moscow on Thursday (Nov 16).

Meanwhile, China remains Venezuela’s main creditor, and the two countries have been growing closer.