Maduro holds on to Power. But, above all, the USA want to force Venezuela’s head of state with sanctions in the knee. Four years ago, the criminal began to measures, since then, the thumb screws are tightened more and more.
2015 – first sanctions under Obama
Yet under Barack Obama, it is the first sanctions against Venezuela. With the presidential decree 13692, the former US President of Venezuela, declared in March 2015, to the “extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”. The United States will freeze the assets of seven officers and top officials of Venezuela, you are also forbidden to enter the U.S. or to do business with US citizens.
The persons Concerned all belong to the security apparatus – to have committed human rights abuses, is stopped by protests and brutal government have pursued the enemy. Also, you should be in the controversial arrest of the mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, have been involved. By the end of 2014, the US Congress allowed by law to impose sanctions against any persons, engage in violence or violating human rights, Obama implements this a few weeks later.
The Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro, and former US-President Barack Obama
2016 – penalties are extended
The Venezuelan head of state Nicolas Maduro urges the US government in February 2016, to extend the sanctions for another year. But Obama shows himself to be unimpressed and does exactly that. His justification: The situation in Venezuela have not improved in over the past year. The Erosion of human rights go, as well as the persecution of opposition politicians, the restriction of the freedom of the press, violence and the violation of human rights during anti-government protests. While the United States put at the end of Obama’s term in Cuba on the Embargo, to loosen, to pull the United States in the case of Venezuela, the reins.
2017 – Trump tightened the punitive measures
Under Obama’s successor to Donald Trump, it goes with much more sanctions more: In February, 2017 Washington financial sanctions to be imposed against the Vice President, Tareck El Aissami, the United States has accused of involvement in the cocaine trade. The middle of the year it goes blow by blow: first financial sanctions against 13 officials of the socialists. At the end of July, after the controversial election of the constituent Assembly to replace the Parliament in Venezuela, Maduro even in the series.
Tareck El Aissami, a former Vice-President of Venezuela
The “dictator that respects the will of the Venezuelan people miss” will be frozen all assets in the United States, U.S. citizens are prohibited transactions with Maduro is strictly prohibited. A week later, further sanctions to come against eight officials – among them, Adán Chávez, the brother of former President Hugo Chávez.
Adán Chávez, brother of Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez
In addition, Washington prohibits the trading of certain government bonds of Venezuela and the state Oil company PDVSA. Venezuela is able to start in the US financial system, no loans or sell the assets. The restrictions are intended to make it difficult for the Venezuelan government, to get fresh money. With strong new financial sanctions, Maduro will lose a major source of revenue.
According to Maduro, it hits but especially the Venezuelan health sector: 300,000 units of Insulin could not be imported because the Venezuelan foreign exchange would be blocked by the city Bank. In addition, nine million packages with basic foods are in a foreign port to a U.S. Bank blocked due to the sanctions the payment process.
2017 – the European Union is resorting to sanctions
In November of 2017, and the European Union imposed sanctions against Venezuela, the be extended a year later, and thus, until today, apply to be imposed. Brussels prohibits the Export of weapons and equipment to Venezuela, which could be used to suppress civil society. Later, a ban on entry into the EU, as well as assets are added for a total of 18 Familiar of Maduro lock. The Affected person should be responsible for human rights violations.
2018 – USA is tightening the thumb screws more
In January of 2018, Washington increased the pressure once more: this Time the sanctions hit four military officials, where “corruption and Repression” is accused of. Again, the assets are to be frozen, again, it is US citizens are prohibited to do with the Affected businesses. At the beginning of may, three more individuals come to list on the sanction, for the first time, 20 companies.
As Nicolás Maduro, in the case of the disputed presidential elections at the end of may, 2018 (the main opposition Alliance had boycotted the election), exacerbated Donald Trump sound again enormous: All US companies and citizens are prohibited to buy government bonds or bonds issued by the Venezuelan government. The same applies to the Central Bank and the Oil company Petróleos de Venezuela.
Cilia Flores, First Lady and wife of the Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro
In September it hits Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, Vice-President, Delcy Rodríguez, and the Minister of defense Vladimir Padrino. “Thank you, Donald Trump answers” Maduro laconic, it was an honor to be from the US with sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department seized meanwhile, in the U.S., a private jet worth $ 20 million, thought to belong to a Familiar of the controversial Chairman of the constituent Assembly, Diosdado Cabello,. In November 2018, the United States also adopted a set of punitive measures against the exports of Gold of Venezuela to withdraw to Caracas, a further source of foreign exchange.
Diosdado Cabello, Chairman of the constituent Assembly
2019 – sanctions hit the most important branch of the economy
2019 takes on Trump, the most important source of income of Venezuela in its sights: the Oil industry. Since the end of January may continue to be purchased Oil from Venezuela, the payments must, however, be blocked accounts, the foreign assets will be frozen. The criminal measures are to remain in force until “there is a transition government or a democratically elected government”. A few days ago, finally, accounts and assets were frozen by other high-ranking officials concerned with the chief of the secret service, Sebin, the Director-General of military counterintelligence, the head of the police special unit, FAES, and the President of the state oil Company PDVSA.