Venezuela has released five political prisoners as had some policy shifts. This resulted in the most significant softening of relations between Venezuela and the United States in years. In a matter of days, Venezuela’s authoritarian government has agreed to accept Venezuelan migrants deported from the United States and signed an agreement with opposition leaders designed to move toward a free and fair presidential election in 2024. In exchange, the United States has agreed to lift some economic sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry, a vital source of income for the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Among the factors driving this flurry of new policies is Venezuela’s increased geopolitical importance.

Source: New York Times October 20, 2023 14:18 UTC