The United States could survive without oil from Venezuela, but Washington has no intention of damaging commercial ties despite poor political relations between the two countries, the U.S. ambassador to Caracas said in an interview published Monday. Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, supplies about 15 percent of U.S. oil imports, but Washington and President Hugo Chavez bicker on a number of issues. Chavez, who has promised a socialist revolution for his country's poor, often accuses the U.S. government of trying to oust him and has threatened to cut off oil supplies to the U.S. market. "That would be a decision for the Venezuelan government and people. The United States could survive with its economy intact without Venezuela as an oil supplier," Ambassador William Brownfield said in an interview with El Universal newspaper. "That would be a shame, as this is a mutual relationship that serves both. If Venezuela decides not to sell us oil, they could go to other markets. We would do the same. Both nations would survive, but hopefully that will not happen," Brownfield said.
