Washington, USA – The US Treasury Department announced a new package of sanctions targeting oil traders and a number of crude oil tankers linked to Venezuelan oil exports.
This is an escalation aimed at increasing economic pressure on the Caracas government.
The US Treasury said in an official statement that the sanctions
included companies and individuals involved in marketing
and transporting Venezuelan oil through means that Washington
considered “in violation of the imposed sanctions.”
This is in addition to the inclusion of oil tankers on blacklists
due to their role in delivering crude oil to foreign markets.
The US administration confirmed that the new measures
are part of a policy of continued pressure on Venezuela.
The statement asserts that oil revenues are used to support policies
that are inconsistent with democratic standards and human rights.
Observers expect the sanctions to complicate Venezuelan export operations
and raise shipping and insurance costs.
This exacerbates the pressures on an economy already suffering
from severe crises and heavily reliant on oil revenues.
There was no immediate response from the Venezuelan government,
which has consistently described the US sanctions as “illegitimate”.
It aims to stifle the national economy and directly impact the lives of citizens.
