Washington escalates rhetoric, moves against Caracas after election
WASHINGTON — The United States has escalated its rhetoric and moves against Venezuela, right after Nicolas Maduro secured a second sixyear term in the country’s election.
US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order prohibiting certain additional transactions with respect to Venezuela.
The order targets the Maduro government by banning all transactions by a US individual or an entity within the US from purchasing any debt owed to the Venezuelan government, including accounts receivable.
Moreover, the order prohibits the purchase of any debt owed to Venezuela that is pledged as collateral after the effective date of the order; the sale, transfer, assignment, or pledging as collateral by Venezuela of any equity interest in any entity in which the Venezuelan government has a 50-percent or greater ownership interest.
It also bans “any transaction that evades or avoids, has the purpose of evading or avoiding, causes a violation of, or attempts to violate any of the prohibitions” and “any conspiracy formed to violate any of the prohibitions” set forth in this order.
US Vice-President Mike Pence also lashed out at Venezuela’s election in a statement, saying it was a “sham” that was “neither free nor fair”.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that Washington will take “swift economic and diplomatic actions” against Caracas.
Venezuelan President of the National Electoral Council Tibisay Lucena announced on Sunday that Maduro was reelected by a wide margin, garnering over 5.8 million votes, with a voter turnout at 46 percent.
Minutes after the electoral body issued its announcement, Maduro celebrated the results, calling on opposition leaders, including former opposition candidates, to take part in constructive dialogue to promote national peace and prosperity.
Maduro was first elected in 2013.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in February that China supports the various parties of Venezuela to properly settle their problems through dialogue, adding that China is willing to continue to help with the country’s economic and social development through practical bilateral cooperation.