The Venezuelan government insisted it did not intend to halt oil sales to the United States, despite Washington's stated goal to cut its dependence on fuel from the South American country. "We will continue selling oil to the United States because we are a serious country," Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro told journalists.
But he added that "if they say they don't need it, then they shouldn't buy it any more."
Maduro spoke in response to comments by Nicholas Burns, the US under secretary of state for political affairs, who said last week that biofuels would eventually lessen US dependence on "countries that have a distorted impact in the world, like Iran and Venezuela."
The United States is the main importer of Venezuelan oil and buys 1.5 million barrels a day, while several US companies have major investments in Venezuela's oil and gas sector.
Maduro also ridiculed US President George W. Bush's upcoming trip to Latin America, which a number of analysts view as an attempt to counter the regional influence of Venezuela's firebrand President Hugo Chavez, a staunch US foe.
Americans, Maduro said, "are trying to position themselves in South America, Bush is going there. For what? To try to divide. They will not achieve this, he is going to waste his time," the minister said.
Bush is scheduled to travel to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico from March 8 to 14.
