In Venezuela, China’s oil-for-loan deals run into debt restructuring, US ‘gatekeeper’ risk

The United States represents the primary obstacle to continuing oil-for-loan arrangements between China and Venezuela, analysts say, creating a significant wild card in what ranks among the largest debt restructurings in history. Following Washington’s abduction in January of Venezuela’s then president, Nicolas Maduro, Caracas is set to reveal a US$240 billion debt pile, according to a Financial Times report on Wednesday.

The disclosure, expected in the coming weeks, rivals the €200 billion...