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Delcy Rodríguez defends scrutinized businessman chosen to develop Venezuelan oil for the US
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Energy & Infrastructure

Delcy Rodríguez defends scrutinized businessman chosen to develop Venezuelan oil for the US

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez defended businessman Alejandro Betancourt, whose company will develop Venezuelan oil for the United States under a bilateral agreement.
  • Rodríguez said Betancourt had been cleared in Venezuela and had no case in the United States, while US officials also backed his role.
  • North American Blue Energy Partners will develop 20% of Venezuela’s proven oil reserves, with a US government office holding a 35% stake in the company, according to the article.

Delcy Rodríguez defended Alejandro Betancourt after questions over the businessman’s role in a major oil agreement between Caracas and Washington. Betancourt heads North American Blue Energy Partners, the company selected to develop Venezuelan oil for the United States.

Betancourt has been investigated in Spain and Switzerland over alleged money laundering and tax fraud. Rodríguez said he had been “cleared years ago” in Venezuela and “has no case” in the United States.

Cleared years ago.

— Delcy RodríguezHer description of Betancourt’s legal status in Venezuela.

“Many times a person is judged in the media before being judged in court,” Rodríguez said at a news conference. She also rejected what she described as false media accusations that she had taken a Falcon aircraft filled with gold to Spain while under sanctions.

Has no case.

— Delcy RodríguezHer statement about Betancourt’s status in the United States.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright defended Betancourt as well. Through an interpreter, Wright said NABEP had “achieved strong results in Venezuela.” In an interview with CNBC in Caracas, he called Betancourt “a very competent operator.”

“ Alejandro had certain conflicts with the previous regime in Venezuela, which caused him to appear in the news,” Wright said, adding that the arrangement would operate under US supervision and that US laws and contracts would be enforced. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also defended the agreement and said Betancourt had no open investigations in the United States.

Many times a person is judged in the media before being judged in court.

— Delcy RodríguezDefense of Betancourt during a news conference.

The company will develop 20% of Venezuela’s proven reserves as part of the bilateral agreement. According to the United States, NABEP has granted the Department of War’s Office of Strategic Capital a 35% equity stake in the company.

A very competent operator.

— Chris WrightWright’s characterization of Betancourt in an interview with CNBC.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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