Venezuela's more brown and lacks the benefit of the Cold War to play both sides against the middle. I don't think its a matter of principles. Maduro has been more than happy to broker deals to lift sanctions and reopen international exports with capitalist states, he just hasn't had the same opportunity to make deals that the Nordic States have had with BP, Shell, and Exxon.

Hell, the Chavezmos didn't even try to nationalize their economy. They built everything socialist out in parallel with the spare oil cash. At least the Nords had the good sense to nationalize health care and education.