Pressure is mounting on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Donald Trump signed, Monday, August 6, a decree imposing sanctions on all goods and interests in the United States of the Venezuelan government, which Washington does not recognize the legitimacy.
"I determined that it was necessary to block the properties of the Venezuelan government because of the continuation of the usurpation of power by the illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro," said the head of state in a letter sent by the White House to the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
This is the most important sanctions against Caracas decided by the US administration, which has targeted in the past the state-owned oil company PDVSA and dozens of representatives and Venezuelan entities.
These assets "can not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn or manipulated", specifies the presidential decree published by the White House.
After the announcement, Caracas accused Washington of "economic terrorism" and sought to provoke a break in the dialogue between government and opposition representatives, which is being held in Barbados with the mediation of Norway.
The analysis of our correspondent in Washington
"We send a signal"
White House National Security Advisor John Bolton said the new decree will force countries and companies to choose between the United States and Venezuela at a summit in Lima, Peru's capital. .
Bolton confirmed that the United States could now target and punish anyone who supported the Maduro government, including foreign entities or nationals.
"We are sending a signal to third parties who want to do business with the Maduro regime: be extremely careful," warned Bolton. "The time for dialogue is over, it is time to act now," said Donald Trump's advisor, urging Moscow to stop supporting the Venezuelan president.
The US administration, which has recognized opposition leader and self-proclaimed President Juan Guaido as a legitimate head of state, has launched a campaign of pressure against Caracas in an effort to drive Nicolas Maduro out of power. The latter, who has the support of China and Russia, retains in his country the support of the army and other institutions.
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Donald Trump said last week that he planned to place Venezuela in "quarantine", without giving more details, an announcement that occurred while the various trains of sanctions imposed by Washington did not allow advance towards a fall of Nicolas Maduro.
With AFP and Reuters