Chavez threatens to cut US oil supplies
10/02/2008 - 23:17:26
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez today threatened to cut off oil sales to the United States if Exxon Mobil wins court judgments to seize billions of dollars in Venezuelan assets.
Mr Chavez, in an attack aimed at US President George Bush, said: “If you end up freezing (Venezuelan assets) and it harms us, we’re going to harm you.
“Do you know how? We aren’t going to send oil to the United States. Take note, Mr Bush, Mr Danger.”
Exxon Mobil has gone after the assets of Venezuela’s state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, in US, British and Dutch courts as it challenges the nationalisation of a multibillion dollar oil project by Chavez’s government last year.
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A British court has issued an injunction “freezing” as much as £6 billion in assets.
“I speak to the US empire, because that’s the master: continue and you will see that we won’t sent one drop of oil to the empire of the United States,” Mr Chavez said during his weekly radio and television programme, Hello, President.
Mr Chavez has repeatedly threatened to cut off oil shipments to the United States, which is Venezuela’s largest customer, if Washington tries to oust him.
Mr Chavez’s warnings today appeared to extend that threat to attempts by oil companies to challenge his government’s nationalisation drive in courts internationally.
“If the economic war continues against Venezuela, the price of oil is going to reach 200 dollars (a barrel) and Venezuela will join the economic war,” Mr Chavez said. “And more than one country is willing to accompany us in the economic war.”
