Washington, D.C. – The United States Treasury Department announced new sanctions against Venezuela today, targeting three nephews of President Nicolás Maduro. The move further intensifies the ongoing pressure on the Maduro regime.
In addition to the sanctions on Maduro’s relatives, six oil tankers have been added to the sanctions list for their alleged involvement in transporting Venezuelan oil. This action follows closely on the heels of the U.S. Navy’s seizure of a large Venezuelan oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, with the White House announcing plans to reroute the vessel to an American port.
These measures are part of a broader effort by the United States to exert maximum pressure on the Maduro government, particularly as political tensions escalate following the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. Machado has vowed to return to Venezuela and work towards ending what she describes as the country’s “tyranny.”
Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela have been steadily rising. Last August, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order authorizing increased military involvement in the region, ostensibly to combat drug trafficking. Washington has also deployed warships and a submarine to the waters off the Venezuelan coast, with a former Secretary of Defense stating that the military is prepared for various operations, including regime change.
The U.S. government is ramping up both economic and military actions in what appears to be a concerted effort to oust President Maduro. Former President Trump had previously stated that Maduro’s days were “numbered.” In response, Maduro has announced the mobilization of 4.5 million personnel and has declared his readiness to defend Venezuela against any potential aggression.
DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing situation.
