The United States could impose sanctions on Venezuela's Chavista regime and is weighing how to act following the arrest warrant against President-elect Edmundo Gonzalez

On Tuesday, the United States condemned the "unjustified arrest warrant" issued by dictator Nicolás Maduro against Edmundo González Urrutia, his main opponent in the recent elections. The U.S. further stated that it is considering "a series of options" to show Maduro that his actions "have consequences."

In a statement, the Department of State strongly denounced the arrest warrant against Gonzalez Urrutia, calling it "arbitrary and politically motivated." The move is described as a new low point in Maduro's "ruthless pursuit" of his opponents following attempts to manipulate the elections.

Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized that, in coordination with its allies, the United States is already evaluating various actions to show Maduro and his collaborators that their illegitimate and repressive acts in Venezuela will not go unpunished, hinting at possible additional sanctions.

"We are considering a range of options to demonstrate to Maduro and his representatives that their illegitimate and repressive actions in Venezuela have consequences," he said.

Miller reiterated the demand that Maduro stop repressing dissent, release the election records and allow Venezuela to return to a democratic path. So far, Maduro has shown no willingness to comply with these demands.

John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, also criticized the arrest warrant against Gonzalez Urrutia, a 75-year-old diplomat who has been in hiding for more than a month, calling it "another example of Mr. Maduro's efforts to maintain power by force."

On the social network X, Brian Nichols, head of U.S. diplomacy for Latin America and the Caribbean, also expressed that Washington joins the growing list of international allies condemning the arrest warrant. Nichols stressed that, instead of acknowledging his electoral defeat, Maduro has chosen to persecute the democratic leader who defeated him at the polls.