Venezuela readying return to Mexico-based talks with opposition -sources

Venezuela’s government plans to resume negotiations with the country’s political opposition in Mexico, after almost a year since the last meeting, according to six sources familiar with the matter. The talks aim to address Venezuela’s prolonged political and economic crisis amid increasing pressure from the US for progress towards a free presidential election.

Two sources involved in the preparations for the talks stated that the opposition will once again request the release of political prisoners and guarantees for the scheduled 2024 election.

In the past year, representatives from Caracas and Washington have held separate discussions in Doha, although the Venezuelan opposition did not directly participate. Both the US State Department and Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs ministry did not provide any comments.

The agenda during the talks in Qatar included discussions on potential relief from US oil sanctions, such as authorizations for foreign energy companies to receive Venezuelan crude as debt repayment, as well as efforts to manage the influx of Venezuelan migrants to the US, according to sources.

Reuters was unable to verify if the US would ease sanctions following a return to negotiations in Mexico.

Last week, a White House spokesperson stated, “Should Venezuela take concrete actions toward restoring democracy, leading to free and fair elections, we are prepared to provide corresponding sanctions relief. At this time, Venezuela has not taken the necessary steps, and our sanctions remain in effect.”

While electoral issues were broadly discussed during the Qatar talks, guarantees were not extensively addressed by the Venezuelan government, according to one source.

On Monday, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez mentioned on social media that she was in Qatar to meet with the ruling emir. The emir’s office confirmed the meeting without providing additional details.

During the Doha talks, it was agreed that the United States will resume deportations of Venezuelans who unlawfully cross the US-Mexico border, according to two sources.

In an opposition nominating contest scheduled this month, three candidates, including Henrique Capriles, who announced on Sunday that he would step down and leave his replacement up to his party, are currently banned from holding office. The opposition has stated that they will proceed with the primary despite a request for a delay from the national electoral council.

Reported by Marianna Parraga in Houston, Diego Ore in Mexico City, Vivian Sequera in Caracas, Matt Spetalnick in Washington, and Andrew Mills in Doha. Edited by Rosalba O’Brien.