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Venezuela to unveil $240bn debt in record restructuring

Financial Times Markets •
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Venezuela's finance ministry said it will publish a detailed inventory of sovereign debt next week, revealing a liability close to $240 billion. The figure dwarfs previous estimates and positions the country for the largest sovereign restructuring in history. Creditors will soon gauge the scale of write‑downs required to bring the nation back into market access to international investors.

The disclosure follows the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro, after which interim authorities inherited a fragmented bond portfolio held by state‑run entities and private investors. Analysts warn that the sudden transparency could trigger a wave of legal challenges, as many instruments were issued under sanctions and lack clear documentation. The move also tests the new government's willingness to confront entrenched debt obligations in the coming weeks.

Investors will weigh the disclosed debt against Venezuela's dwindling oil revenues, which fund the majority of public spending. A restructuring of this magnitude could reshape the country's credit profile and unlock access to international capital markets, but only if creditors accept steep haircuts. Venezuela thus faces a narrow window to negotiate terms in the near term before fiscal pressure forces more drastic measures.