U.S. Set to Stop Russia Deal For Texas Oil Firm: Report

[DonViejo]

Source: Newsweek




BY DAMIEN SHARKOV ON 9/1/17 AT 10:37 AM

President Donald Trump’s administration is ready to stop a potential Russian state takeover of some petroleum assets in the U.S., as its current cash-strapped holders could offload them to Moscow in a controversial deal, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

U.S. lawmakers demanded earlier this year that the White House and the U.S. Treasury keep a close eye on the situation as it could see Venezuela’s Petróleos de Venezuela SA hand over its stake in a Texas company— which comprises around 5 percent of U.S. crude-oil refining capacity—to Moscow.

Venezuela has offered Russia’s state-run giant Rosneft nearly half the shares in U.S.-based Citgo Petroleum Corp as collateral for the $1.5 billion Rosneft loaned Venezuela in 2016 as the country’s current crisis was in its nascency.

“We cannot give (Russian President Vladimir) Putin any opening to affect the flow of oil or toy with Americans’ prices at the pump,” Democratic Senator Bob Menendez said in April. “And we cannot play Russian roulette with America’s energy infrastructure. The risk to our national security and our economy is not one I’m willing to take.” Lawmakers from both parties have since joined the call against the prospective deal.



Read more: http://www.newsweek.com/us-ready-stop-russian-state-deal-venezuela-texas-oil-firm-report-658395

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Join us next time for the exciting conclusion ....

CYA Jujitsu

OR

Vladdy Got Played TOO!

[kimbutgar]

2. Bad optics if he let his russian masters complete this deal

You know he is complicit with Russia. This is just red meat for his cultof45ers

[Dopers_Greed]

3. Putie will not be pleased

Will we get a preview of the pee-pee tape if the deal is blocked?

[sandensea]

4. My guess is that they'll quietly let it go through once the media spotlight shifts elsewhere.

The business mags will cover it; but most voters will simply not find out.

[Igel]

6. It's a twofer.

Putin bailed out Maduro back in January.

Rossiya and Rosneft would have benefited either way: Either from the interest on the bonds or from taking the Venezuelan assets.

This makes it so Venezuela gives up control of 49.5% of Citgo and Russia can't benefit.

(Because Maduro and Putin have been best friends from time to time. Not as good friends as China has been, but you know, "progressives" like Maduro, Xi, and Putin look out for each other. Birds of a feather and all that.)

[C Moon]

5. Mueller must be right on target with something.

Trump is trying lame, childlike tactics to look good to the public regarding Russia. That's 2 in 2 days.