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Posted on 04/05/2019 1:08:19 PM PDT by jazusamo
The Trump administration announced Friday a fresh wave of sanctions against Venezuela, targeting the country's state-owned oil company in an effort to pressure embattled President Nicolás Maduro.
Vice President Pence said during a speech in Houston that the administration will sanction 34 vessels owned or operated by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), as well as two companies that transport Venezuelan crude oil to Cuba.
"Venezuela’s oil belongs to the Venezuelan people," Pence said.
The vice president portrayed the latest tranche of sanctions as part of an ongoing effort to pressure Maduro to give up power peacefully. The administration has doled out sanctions against members of Maduro's inner circle, targeted PdVSA with penalties earlier this year and attempted to send humanitarian aid to the country.
"Those who are looking on should know in the midst of all these actions, as President Trump has made clear, all options are on the table," Pence said. "We will not stand idly by while the Venezuelan people suffer under dictatorship and oppression. And Nicolás Maudro would do well not to test the resolve of the United States of America."
Maduro has hung on to power as Venezuela faces a worsening economic and humanitarian crisis. The U.S. led a coalition of nations earlier this year in recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country's legitimate president.
Officials in the Trump administration have accused Cuba of propping up the Maduro regime, pointing specifically to Havana's ties to the Venezuelan oil industry.
"Cuba continues to profit from, and prop up, the illegitimate Maduro regime through oil-for-repression schemes as they attempt to keep Maduro in power," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement Friday. "The United States remains committed to a transition to democracy in Venezuela and to holding the Cuban regime accountable for its direct involvement in Venezuela’s demise."
GREAT!
Now choke mexico to the point of starvation
Why not park a couple of carrier groups off shore and stop all oil tankers coming out.
When do we seize CITGO under the enemy act?
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“When do we seize CITGO under the enemy act?”
don’t need to ... the Maduro-friendly board and executives were kicked out and a Juan Guaido-friendly board and executives were installed, and all profits are being escrowed for future use by a Juan Guaido government ...
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