US signals Venezuela oil sanctions relief at risk as deadline looms


FILE PHOTO: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attends an event at the National Electoral Council (CNE) in Caracas, Venezuela, December 4, 2023. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo

WASHINGTON/HOUSTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration has signaled that it could reimpose oil sanctions on Venezuela on Thursday in response to what U.S. officials see as President Nicolas Maduro's failure to meet his commitments for free and fair elections this year.

Barring any last-minute concessions by Maduro, the U.S. has made clear it is not likely to renew a six-month license that granted the OPEC member partial sanctions relief from October, following an election deal reached between the government and the Venezuelan opposition. It expires just after midnight EST (0400 GMT on Friday).

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