If Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was not invited to the Western Hemisphere Summit in June. But in October, he already traveled to Egypt to attend the UN COP27 climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.. There, he joked with French President Emmanuel Macron and shook hands with John Kerry, the US government's climate envoy, writes AP NEWS.

Maduro's efforts are also aimed at strengthening his influence at home as he enters 2023, with elections coming up in 2024, which should be free and fair..

Crucial for Maduro is the main asset of his country - oil and... the war in Ukraine. The South American country has the world's largest proven oil reserves, but it hasn't shipped it to the Western market since the US imposed devastating economic sanctions as democracy and human rights deteriorated in Venezuela after Maduro's re-election..

“But the international community wants to make some contribution to global energy security, and with the disappearance of Russian oil from the market, Venezuelan oil is becoming attractive again,” said Ryan Berg, director of the Americas program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank..

[see_also ids\u003d"

Maduro's attempt to clean up his image comes as many of the conditions that made him an international pariah remain unchanged..

[see_also ids\u003d"

Independent experts working with the UN's main human rights body have documented systematic attacks on government opponents, journalists and others.

Their report, released in September, alleges that Maduro personally ordered the arrest of government opponents who were subjected to electric shocks, strangulation and other brutal acts while in custody..

The economic crisis that began in the last months of Chavez's rule only worsened during Maduro's presidency. About 7 million Venezuelans left the country, the local currency depreciated, and millions of people were forced into poverty.

Under Maduro, who replaced Chavez in 2013, about three-quarters of the population lives on less than $1.90 a day, an international measure of extreme poverty.. Power outages are part of everyday life and water supply is severely limited.

" "

Maduro has serious cash flow problems and wants access to the international financial system and the US oil market, Ramsey said.. But, he added, the only way Maduro is likely to get access to the dollars is through negotiations with the opposition, including the US government-backed faction..

They were put on hold for more than a year after one of his key allies was extradited to the US from Africa..

However, in late November, the two sides reached an important agreement to fund much-needed social programs..

The agreement will create a UN-managed fund to fund health, food and education programs in Venezuela.

The money will be taken from the country's assets frozen abroad and is not expected to go directly to the Maduro government.. However, this did not stop his administration from advertising the deal as the return of funds “stolen” by the United States..

However, agreement has yet to be reached on conditions for holding presidential elections due in 2024, on the release of political prisoners, and on ending election bans on many opposition politicians..