Venezuela Accuses ExxonMobil of Lobbying Against Oil Licenses, Conspiring for Sanctions, and Planning Assassinations

Delcy Rodríguez, the Executive Vice President of Venezuela, has accused ExxonMobil of orchestrating a lobbying campaign against the country and its oil licenses. In a recent presentation, she revealed a document purportedly showing ExxonMobil's efforts to promote sanctions against Venezuela and suggested that the company has been conspiring against the nation for over a decade. Rodríguez warned that any harm to Venezuelan leaders would be directly attributed to ExxonMobil. Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, echoed these claims, stating that ExxonMobil's actions are part of a 'machiavellian' plot to undermine investments in the country, specifically targeting Chevron. Maduro also accused the company of involvement in terrorist activities aimed at destabilizing Venezuela during the presidential elections. Both Rodríguez and Maduro emphasized that Venezuela remains committed to its recovery despite external pressures, and Rodríguez specifically mentioned that ExxonMobil had previously funded legal efforts in Guyana regarding the Essequibo dispute. The Venezuelan government has declared ExxonMobil an enemy of the state, with Rodríguez asserting that the company has been attempting to seize Venezuela's natural resources through these actions.