Relationship dossier
United States
Venezuela
Relationship assessment
Sustained political and economic confrontation, with limited transactional cooperation
United States toward Venezuela
-70The United States has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials and the oil sector and recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president in 2019. In 2023, it temporarily eased some oil-related sanctions following an electoral agreement, while maintaining the possibility of renewed restrictions.
Venezuela toward United States
-70Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with the United States in 2019 and has repeatedly opposed U.S. sanctions and pressure on its government. The Venezuelan government also participated in a 2023 prisoner exchange that returned detained Americans to the United States.
Overall relationship
-70The relationship is shaped by sustained U.S. sanctions and political pressure, Venezuela’s rejection of those measures and rupture of diplomatic relations, and recurring disputes over political legitimacy and elections. The 2023 electoral agreement and prisoner exchange show that limited, issue-specific negotiations remain possible, but they have not displaced the broader confrontation.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
United States–Venezuela relations have been marked by sustained confrontation over Venezuela’s government, elections, sanctions, and oil policy. The United States has imposed sanctions and recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president, while Venezuela broke diplomatic relations with the United States in 2019. Limited cooperation has occurred, including a 2023 prisoner exchange and temporary U.S. sanctions relief tied to an electoral agreement.
Areas of tension
- U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan officials and the oil sector
- U.S. recognition of opposition leadership and disputes over political legitimacy
- Electoral conditions and restrictions on opposition candidates
- Venezuelan opposition to U.S. pressure and sanctions
Key developments
The United States recognized Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president, and Nicolás Maduro’s government announced that it was breaking diplomatic relations with the United States.
The United States temporarily eased some oil-related sanctions after Venezuelan government and opposition representatives signed an electoral agreement in Barbados.
The United States and Venezuela carried out a prisoner exchange, including the release of ten detained Americans by Venezuela and the return of Alex Saab to Venezuela.
Major uncertainties
- The durability and implementation of electoral commitments tied to U.S. sanctions relief remain uncertain.
- The scope of ongoing energy and consular arrangements is unclear.