Sanctions target Venezuela
The Trump administration placed sanctions on 13 current and former senior Venezuelan officials Wednesday and warned that it was prepared to take far more draconian measures if President Nicolas Maduro does not cancel a vote this weekend to choose a new congress.
Those hit with sanctions include top officials from the government, the security services and the Venezuelan oil industry in an attempt to continue punishing Maduro loyalists for undemocratic, violent and corrupt actions.
The measures, which freeze any money that they have in the United States and prohibit U.S. citizens or financial institutions from any dealing with them, are the latest in a series of steps administration officials described as a “steady drumbeat” of pressure on the Madurogovernment.
The vote scheduled for Sunday to elect a new superassembly is widely seen as a move by Mr. Maduro to consolidate his power amid widespread opposition proteststhat have virtually shut down the country and a security crackdown that has led to deaths and massive arrests.
Venezuela should expect further sanctions if it moves forward with Sunday’s vote to create a national constituent assembly, the White House said Wednesday afternoon, confirming the list of names first reported by theMiami Herald.
In a statement earlier this month, President Donald Trump said the United States would support Venezuelans
Foreign policy roundup
standing for “democracy, freedom and the rule of law” ignored by “a bad leader who dreams of becoming a dictator” and “will not stand by as Venezuela crumbles.”
As pressure on Mr. Maduro continued to build, anti-government forces were staging a 48-hour strike that shut down large parts of the capital Wednesday, with a massive march on Caracas being organized for Friday or Saturday.
In the wealthier eastern half of the city, most businesses closed to support the strike called by the opposition, which is boycotting the vote and calling for its cancellation.
The main highways of the capital city were largely closed down in the early morning, and reports surfaced of national police lobbing tear gas at strikers in the center. In the poorer neighborhoods in the west, the strike appeared less pronounced, with more businesses open and more people on the streets.
Bill hits hurdle
A new package of financial sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea has a hit a snag in the Senate, where the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee has objected to the House’s decision to include penalties targeting Pyongyang in the legislation.
Sen. Bob Corker, RTenn., told reporters Wednesday that he preferred to keep the North Korea sanctions in a separate bill that would be considered by the Senate.
His remarks came less than 18 hours after the House overwhelmingly passed the bill, 419-3, to sanction all three U.S. adversaries. The penalties on Moscow are for its meddling in the presidential election and military aggression in Ukraineand Syria.
According to the bill, Mr. Trump would be barred from easing the Russia sanctions without first getting permission from Congress, a demand that could imperil his bid for better relations with Moscow.
Afghan difficulties
In a bloody overnight attack in Kandahar province in Afghanistan on Wednesday, the Taliban routed an Afghan Army outpost, killing dozens of soldiers and raising fears of a concerted insurgent offensive in the province, a former seat of Taliban power that took years of effort by coalition and Afghan forces to secure.
The large number of casualties has raised concerns about new Taliban tactics against an Afghan force already losing men in record numbers.
Also, when the Taliban overrun outposts and police stations, they often capture even more weapons and ammunition, most of it paid for by the United States and its allies to help bolster the Afghan forces.
Ambassador Brownback?
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has been tapped for an ambassadorship by Mr. Trump a little more than a month after the Kansas governor saw his signature tax policy dismantled by the state’s Legislature.
Mr. Trump announced Mr. Brownback’s appointment as ambassador-atlarge for international religious freedom Wednesday evening.