Latin America Advisor 2022-12-05 – Inter-American Dialogue

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

December 5, 2022

What Will Come of Venezuela’s New Round of Talks?

Representatives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government, led by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez (pictured), and the country’s opposition launched new talks in November. // File Photo: @PresidencialVen via Twitter.

Q

After a hiatus lasting more than a year, representatives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government and the country’s opposition resumed talks on Nov. 26 in Mexico City. The two sides signed a “social agreement” that asks the United Nations to manage some $3 billion of Venezuelan money that is currently in frozen international accounts. The money would be used to improve Venezuela’s power grid and also for needs at the country’s schools and hospitals. How significant are the talks and the agreements that the two sides reached last month? What are Maduro’s government and the opposition willing to cede in the talks, and what do they want in return? What are the most meaningful agreements that are likely to come out of the negotiations, and what would a road map to successful elections in 2024 look like?

A

Michael Shifter, senior fellow and former president of the Inter-American Dialogue: “Representatives of the Maduro government and the Venezuelan opposition were able to overcome some hurdles and strike an agreement that will provide desperately needed aid to help alleviate the country’s acute humanitarian crisis. This accord, together with the U.S. granting a limited license to Chevron to resume oil operations in Venezuela, prepared the way for current negotiations to reach a broader political agreement. For the two preliminary deals, along with a prospective political agreement focused on human rights and the restoration of democratic rule, the U.S. government’s role is crucial. The talks will require skilled and sustained engagement from Washington. Maduro seeks…”

Top News

U.S., Mexico Working on Plan to Encourage Firms to Relocate

Mexican Economy Minister Raquel Buenrostro and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo agreed on Friday to release a plan early next year to encourage businesses to relocate to North America.

Venezuela Signs Oil Contracts With Chevron

Chevron signed contracts with Venezuela’s government and state oil company PDVSA in order to revive oil output.

El Salvador’s Bukele Deploys 10,000 Troops to Town Near Capital

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Saturday deployed 10,000 troops to the town of Soyapango, on the outskirts of the capital San Salvador, in a crackdown on gang members. // File Photo: @nayibbukele via Twitter.

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The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.

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Gene Kuleta
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P. 202.463.2920
E. gkuleta@thedialogue.org

Carl David
Goette-Luciak
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Reporter

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Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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