Venezuela's Vice President and Minister of Petroleum, Rodriguez, emphasized that the US government's efforts to halt Chevron's operations in Venezuela will adversely affect both the Venezuelan people and the United States. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) within the US Department of the Treasury has mandated that Chevron and its subsidiaries terminate all related transactions in Venezuela by April 3rd. Rodriguez highlighted that these actions have already disrupted energy prices, undermined US companies' overseas investments, and challenged the notion of 'economic freedom' espoused by the US. Since January 2019, when diplomatic ties between the two countries were severed due to the US's persistent interference in Venezuela's internal affairs and attempts to oust the Maduro government, the US has intensified its economic sanctions against Venezuela, including a ban on crude oil exports. Nevertheless, in November 2022, then-US President Biden granted Chevron and its subsidiaries a waiver, enabling them to conduct limited oil drilling and exploration activities in Venezuela.