US issues new sanctions on allies of Venezuela's Maduro

By Umar Farooq

WASHINGTON

The U.S. on Monday issued a new round of sanctions on Venezuela, adding four governors to a list Washington has already imposed restrictions.

On the list of newly sanctioned individuals are former Vice President of Venezuela and current Governor of Apure Ramon Carrizalez, former Minister of Defense and Governor of Vargas Jorge Garcia, along with Covernor of Zulia Omar Prieto and Governor Rafael Lacava of Carabobo.

"Treasury is targeting four state governors aligned with former President [Nicolas] Maduro for standing in the way of severely needed humanitarian assistance and prolonging the suffering of the Venezuelan people," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

The sanctions were announced by the Treasury Department as Vice President Mike Pence is currently in Colombia and is planning to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on the sidelines of the Lima Group summit, which is being held to discuss the situation in the country.

Guaido, who heads Venezuela’s National Assembly, declared himself interim president Jan. 23, a move supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries, following protests that had rocked the country.

Turkey, Russia, Iran, Cuba, China, and Bolivia reiterate support for Maduro, who vowed to cut all diplomatic and political ties with the U.S. following the diplomatic spat.

The U.S. has led an international campaign to apply economic and diplomatic pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, including sanctioning the country's state-owned oil company, Petroleos De Venezuela S.A., or PDVSA, and a joint venture with its Nicaraguan counterpart.

Maduro insists he is the victim of a U.S.-orchestrated coup amid a spiraling economic and humanitarian crisis in the country.

Venezuela is experiencing widespread shortages of food and medicine and has the highest inflation rate in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund.