U.S. issues new penalties against Venezuelan officials
Envoy: Military intervention possible
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration issued a new round of visa restrictions and economic sanctions Friday against the government of President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, who has given little indication that he will cede control despite a prediction by a top U.S. envoy that his “dictatorship” would come to an end, “quickly and peacefully.”
The envoy, Elliott Abrams, also noted the possibility of U.S. military intervention, as requested by Juan Guaidó, the Venezuelan opposition leader. But he described it as a distant line of action behind other moves meant to ratchet up diplomatic and economic pressure against Mr. Maduro.
“We continue to say, and we always will, that all options are on the table,” Mr. Abrams told reporters at the State Department. “But I think that anyone who actually looks at American policy in Venezuela could not reach that conclusion.”
Vice President Mike Pence, who has visited the region five times, largely to put pressure on Mr. Maduro, said this week that he personally reassured Mr. Guaidó that military intervention was on the table. But, he said, that decision was ultimately up to President Donald Trump.
The Trump administration this week escalated its campaign to pressure Mr. Maduro to step down, even as adversarial governments, including Russia, have become involved in the conflict.
In January, with White House support, Mr. Guaidó declared himself Venezuela’s interim president after accusations of electoral fraud and corruption by the Maduro government that have sent the country’s economy into hyperinflation and poverty.
Mr. Abrams swatted away a suggestion made by Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, that the United States was pondering immediate military intervention.
Instead, Mr. Abrams said, the Trump administration is focused on relatively modest sanctions that were announced Friday and earlier in the week, including those against at least 10 Venezuelan government officials and members of Mr. Maduro’s inner circle, accusing them of abuse of power and of blocking aid to the country.
Mr. Abrams also announced visa restrictions for “dozens” of Mr. Maduro’s associates, some of whom he said may be in the United States. He said he was prohibited from naming the Venezuelan officials and their family members whose visas were revoked but cited a “mix” of people both inside and outside the United States.