The United States announced this Tuesday that it will reimpose several of the sanctions it had lifted against Venezuela, after the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) maintained the political disqualification of the opposition member María Corina Machado.
“The actions of Nicolás Maduro and his representatives in Venezuela, including the arrest of members of the democratic opposition and the banning of candidates from competing in this year's presidential elections, They are inconsistent with the agreements signed in Barbados last October by representatives of Nicolás Maduro and the Unitary Platform,” Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the US State Department, said in a statement.
Consequently, Miller continues, The United States will not renew General License 44, which provides relief to Venezuela's oil and gas sector when it expires this April 18, 2024.
Additionally, The United States also revoked General License 43, which authorized transactions related to Minerven, the Venezuelan state gold mining company.
“Americans – says the spokesperson – will have fourteen days to cancel any transaction that has been previously authorized by that license.”
(Also read: US responds to Machado's disqualification and reverses sanctions relief for Minerven)
Miller maintains that Washington remains firmly committed to supporting dialogue between the parties and the aspirations of the Venezuelan people. to a democratic future and will continue to work with the international community and all peaceful democratic actors across the political spectrum in Venezuela.
Likewise, it will take advantage of the available mechanisms to encourage a return to the principles of the Barbados agreement.
(You can read: 'They can't hold elections without me': María Corina Machado refuses to leave her candidacy)
“The Barbados electoral roadmap agreement remains the most viable mechanism to resolve the political, economic and humanitarian crisis of Venezuela and achieve competitive and inclusive elections in Venezuela, but that will require Maduro and his representatives to respect the principles of the road map and ensure that opposition political actors have the right to freely choose their candidates for the elections. presidential elections of 2024,” said the spokesperson.
(Also: Venezuelan opposition will file a complaint with Norway due to María Machado's disqualification)
The Barbados electoral roadmap agreement remains the most viable mechanism to resolve the political crisis
The US decision comes after pressure from various sectors in Washingtonespecially in the Republican Party, which increased last week with the announcement by the Venezuelan supreme leader that he will maintain Machado's disqualification in force.
This Monday, the president of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, María Elvira Salazar; the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Michael McCaul; and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Senator Jim Risch; published a joint statement calling on the Biden administration to restore the sanctions regime that was lifted last October following Maduro's failure to comply of the terms agreed with the opposition in Barbados.
SERGIO GÓMEZ MASERI
TIME CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON
On X (formerly Twitter): @sergom68
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