The vice president of the Venezuelan dictatorial regime, Delcy Rodríguez, threatened the United States with the cancellation of migrant repatriation flights in response to the recent reactivation of sanctions by the US government in the Venezuelan gold sector.
Rodríguez used social networks to express her discontent with the measures taken by the US government since the continued political disqualification of María Corina Machado, the main opposition leader of the South American country, was announced.
The vice president described the US decision as “rude and improper blackmail” and a “deliberate attempt to hit the Venezuelan oil and gas industry.”
“If they take the wrong step of intensifying economic aggression against Venezuela, at the request of the extremist lackeys in the country, as of February 13, repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants will be immediately revoked, and they would review any existing cooperation mechanism,” she threatened on X.
Venezuela toda rechaza el grosero e indebido chantaje y ultimátum manifestado por el gobierno de EEUU. Si dan el paso en falso de intensificar la agresión económica contra Venezuela, a pedido de los extremistas lacayos en el país, a partir del 13 de febrero quedarían revocados de… https://t.co/cLo5Di2Dck
— Delcy Rodríguez (@delcyrodriguezv) January 30, 2024
It should be noted that the United States had decided to lift several sanctions that weighed on the Venezuelan dictatorial regime after Nicolás Maduro signed the Barbados Agreement, in which he committed to ensuring fair presidential elections and the eventual resolution of political disqualifications. However, the situation changed after the Venezuelan government prohibited the opposition leader, who won 92.5% of the votes in the primaries, from competing in the elections. Afterward, the White House reported that it would begin making decisions on sanctions.
The United States orders to close transactions with Minerven
As a first measure in response to the disqualification of María Corina Machado, the United States Department of the Treasury reported that all transactions related to Minerven, a company dedicated to gold mining in Venezuela, must be closed before February 13.
The United States announces its next actions against Venezuela
Through a statement shared this Tuesday, the United States reported that it will not renew General License 44 in April, which provided relief to Venezuela’s oil and gas sector. Likewise, it announced that the US government will use all the mechanisms at its disposal “to encourage a return to the principles in the Barbados agreement.”
“The United States remains strongly committed to supporting dialogue between the parties and to the aspirations of the Venezuelan people for a democratic future. We will continue to work with the international community and all peaceful democratic actors across the political spectrum in Venezuela (...) The Barbados electoral roadmap agreement remains the most viable mechanism to resolving Venezuela’s longstanding political, economic, and humanitarian crisis and realizing competitive and inclusive elections in Venezuela,” the text reads.
