With Migration Surging, U.S. Considers Easing Sanctions on Venezuela

There is a growing push within the Biden administration to reshape the relationship with oil-rich Venezuela, as officials seek to contain a crush of migration at the southern border and make progress in the energy war against Russia.

The discussions, which U.S. officials say revolve around restarting oil exports from Venezuela if the country takes steps to restore democracy, could spur a major diplomatic shift with America’s staunchest adversary in South America.

Since President Biden took office, the administration has signaled an openness to rapprochement with Venezuela in exchange for a democratic opening, partly because some U.S. officials believe that a purely hard line approach has failed to push the government of President Nicolás Maduro away from autocracy.