The US restores sanctions on the Venezuelan gold sector and threatens the oil tanker

USA announced this Tuesday the restoration of sanctions on Venezuela’s gold sector and threatened to do the same with the oil sector in retaliation for the disqualification of the opposition presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller announced on social media that “in response to antidemocratic actions“from the Government of Nicolás Maduro, United States”has revoked sanctions relief for Venezuela’s gold sector.”

“Relief for Venezuelan oil and gas sectors will be renewed in April only if Maduro’s representatives fulfill their commitments”said the State Department spokesperson.

After Chavismo and the opposition agreed last October in Barbados on a roadmap for the 2024 presidential elections, Washington lifted a series of economic sanctions that weighed on Venezuela for six months.

This Tuesday’s announcement regarding the gold sector implies that all companies that are carrying out operations with the Venezuelan state mining company Minerven must liquidate them before February 13, the US Treasury Department detailed in a note.

Likewise, the State Department threatened in a statement that on April 18 sanctions on Venezuelan oil and gas will be restored if it is not allowed “that all presidential candidates compete in this year’s elections”.

The Joe Biden Administration made this decision in response to the decision of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuela to ratify the disqualification from holding public office for 15 years that weighs on the candidate of the main opposition coalition to the presidential elections, María Corina. Machado.

The White House had warned the Maduro Government on Monday that it has until April to comply with the agreements reached with the opposition with a view to the presidential elections that must be held this year or else it may face sanctions again.

“We have options at our disposal. I’m not going to advance any of them at this time, but we certainly have options regarding sanctions and those types of things that we can take. They have until April”said White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

Among the conditions that the US set last October for not reactivating sanctions was the release of several US prisoners in Venezuela, something that happened last month, but also allowing Machado to compete in the next elections.

This Monday, Machado thanked the “overwhelming” international response in rejection of the ratification of her political disqualification and assured that, despite the decision made by the TSJ last Friday, she will be a candidate in the next elections.

He further stated that in “these last days”, has spoken with “many representatives from different countries“, among them leaders, without offering names, and hopes that those nations that have not spoken “do it in the next few hours”.

The former deputy, who described it as an act of “judicial crime“The Supreme Court ruling stated that President Nicolás Maduro”He resorts to terror because he is afraid to measure himself” with her.