Trump Renews Obama-Era Emergency Over Venezuela
By teleSUR
06 March 19
Donald Trump says he believes that Venezuela "is a threat" to the United
States, while the U.S. continues to promote aggression against Maduro's
government.
The United States government has renewed it's declaration of a national
emergency over Venezuela for another year, which former President Barack
Obama initially decreed in March 2015.
In response, the Venezuelan government said the renewal of this measure is
"a historic error" in the context of the economic aggressions and threats of
military intervention to which the U.S. has subjected the country.
In a statement sent to Congress, U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that
Venezuela continues to represent "a threat to U.S. policy."
The decree against Venezuela includes sanctions against government officials
within the framework of an economic blockade against the country that has
cost around US$35 billion, according to complaints to the U.N. from the
Venezuelan government.
Elliot Abrams, U.S. special envoy to Venezuela, affirmed Tuesday that the
White House does not rule out imposing secondary sanctions against the
Venezuelan government. Abrams said the U.S. government has many plans on the
table to be lodged against the government of the South American country,
including possible military action.
"It's a possibility, but it's not yet time," Abrams said during a press
conference. "Our policy is diplomatic pressure. Although all options are on
the table, we have not chosen the military option."
The special envoy to the U.S. said they are considering imposing sanctions
on actors from third-party countries in response to situation in Venezuelan.
For the moment, Abrams said that "there will be more revocations and
cancellations of visas" for officials linked to the Venezuelan government.
Abrams' words come a day after the White House Security Adviser John Bolton
indicated that President Trump's administration will take measures against
Cuba for supporting President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro.
The U.S. and its right-wing allies in Latin America have come out in support
of opposition lawmaker, Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president
of Venezuela 13 days after Maduro's inauguration on Jan. 23. The opposition
refused to particpate in last years elections last May, saying the election
was rigged.
Amidst the controversy, Maduro called for the restoration of talks between
his government and the opposition in order to maintain peace and avoid a
U.S.-backed coup. He also appealed to Pope Francis who said that both sides
would first need to agree to a mediation.
The Pope notably brokered a negotiation between the U.S. and Cuba in 2014 to
end to more than five decades of hostilities.
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