The US will restore sanctions on Venezuela if it does not release three imprisoned Americans

The United States will restore the sanctions that it temporarily lifted on Venezuela if the Government of Nicolás Maduro does not begin to release before the end of November the three Americans that Washington considers unjustly imprisoned.

This was explained this Thursday in an interview with EFE by Juan González, main advisor for Latin America to the president of the United States, Joe Biden, who also advocated for the rehabilitation of all disqualified candidates, including the anti-Chavista María Corina Machado.

“Our expectation is that before the end of November a path will have been defined for the rehabilitation of candidates and that unjustly detained Americans and political prisoners will begin to be released.“González explained in a telephone conversation, who said that otherwise he will”calibrate sanctions policy”.

He stressed that there are still validvery robust sanctions on Venezuela”, which will be relieved depending on the “advances or setbacks” in this process.

Three Americans imprisoned

According to the Biden Administration, there are currently three Americans “unjustly imprisoned” in Venezuela that ““They have not committed any crime.” and? “They should be at home with their families.””.

The White House National Security Council official cited the case of Eyvin Hernández, an American lawyer detained in Venezuela since last year for allegedly irregularly crossing the border during a vacation in Colombia.

Last night, after the relief of United States sanctions became known, five Venezuelan prisoners were released, including Roland Carreño, a collaborator of the Voluntad Popular (VP) party founded by Leopoldo López.

For González this was a first “concrete step“of the agreement, which Washington will analyze”step by step”.

Biden’s advisor pointed out that the United States also wants the electoral rehabilitation of “all the candidates who apply, that includes María Corina Machado”, the favorite candidate of the opposition primaries who, however, is prohibited from competing for popularly elected positions.

González stressed that “Venezuelans must decide who their political leaders are” and assured that the United States does not support “no candidate” concrete.

Palmieri’s trip to Caracas

Maduro said Wednesday that he hopes to receive “soon” a visit by the American diplomat Francisco Palmieri, appointed by Washington as head of Mission of the United States Foreign Office for Venezuela, based in Bogotá.

In this regard, González explained that the trip is not defined yet but assured that “there is interest“that Palmieri goes to Caracas to”speak with representatives of Nicolás Maduro” and the opposition, and that it is “within the country to support the electoral route”.

The United States announced on Wednesday a six-month easing of sanctions on Venezuela’s oil and gas after the Maduro government and the opposition Unitary Platform signed a guarantee agreement in Barbados for the presidential elections in the second half of 2024. which includes international observation.

The lifting of sanctions was announced on the same day that the deportation flights between the United States and Venezuela began, in a show of cooperation between both countries that have broken diplomatic relations since 2019.

González pointed out that “all types of agreements have to be viewed with skepticism” and be measured based on its execution, but he believed that the pact between the Government and the opposition is “the most viable path“for the celebration of some”competitive elections” and to “resolve the political and economic crisis” from the country.

“We don’t know one hundred percent if it will be successful. But it’s worth the risk. We have to understand that the ‘status quo’ was not improving the situation”he explained.