Venezuela is a committed ally of Russia, but it is open to doing business with the United States. This was stated by the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Félix Plasencia, at the Antalya Diplomatic Forum, where this Saturday he met with the head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrell.
“We are committed allies of the Russian government and we respect its president, (Vladimir) Putin, as a responsible member of the international community. And we are convinced that he will do what is best for the people,” Plasencia said in an interview with the Turkish agency Anadolu conducted in English.
At the same time, Plasencia strongly backed a hypothetical return of US oil companies to Venezuela. This following high-level contacts with Washington last week.
Félix Plasencia talks regarding rapprochement with the US
“We have been doing oil business with American companies for a hundred years. We never ask them to leave the country. I hope you respect the sovereignty and legitimacy of my country. If they respect it, we can do a lot together in the oil business,” the minister said.
Plasencia assured that Venezuela currently produces one million barrels per day and reiterated that it will reach two million by the end of the year “with reliable partners, such as Russia, China and Iran,” although there would always be room to expand this trade to the United States, he stressed.
The Delegation of the EU in Ankara confirmed in a message on Twitter that Plasencia had met this Saturday with the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, but did not give more details regarding the meeting.
