Venezuela: Conditions, Issues & U.S. Relations

While historically the United States has had close relations with Venezuela, a major oil supplier, friction in bilateral relations rose under the leftist populist government of President Hugo Chavez (1999-2013), who died in March 2013 after battling cancer for almost two years. U.S. policymakers and Members of Congress have had concerns for a number of years about the deterioration of human rights and democratic conditions in Venezuela as well as the Venezuelan government’s lack of cooperation on anti-drug and counterterrorism efforts. The United States has imposed financial sanctions on eight current or former Venezuelan officials for allegedly helping the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia with drug and weapons trafficking. The United States has also imposed sanctions on three Venezuelan companies for support to Iran and on several Venezuelan individuals for supporting Hezbollah. Despite tensions in relations, the Obama Administration has maintained that the United States remains committed to seeking constructive engagement with Venezuela. This book discusses the conditions, issues and United States relations of Venezuela.