Joe Biden extended the term of executive order labeling Maduro’s regime an “extraordinary threat to the national security” of the United States

United States President Joe Biden has extended the duration of the national emergency decree on Venezuela, considering that the situation in the Caribbean country under the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro “He continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

In letter to the United States Congress, Biden explained the extension of the executive order signed on March 8, 2015 by then-President Barack Obama. “Section 202 (d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 USC 1622 (d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days of the anniversary date of its declaration, the President issues in the Federal Register and give Congress a notice that the emergency will continue in effect after the anniversary date, ”he said.

“In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the attached notice in which it is declared that the national emergency declared in Decree 13692 of March 8, 2015, concerning the situation in Venezuela, will continue in force beyond March 8, 2021 ″, continues the text.

And Biden argued the decision: “The situation in Venezuela continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to US national security and foreign policy. Therefore, I determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Decree 13692 concerning the situation in Venezuela ”.

On the other hand, the head of American diplomacy, Antony Blinken, Communiqué for the first time on Tuesday with the interim president of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó.

“Secretary Blinken stresses the importance of returning to democracy in Venezuela through free and fair elections,” the State Department said in a statement.

During the call, The Secretary of State described efforts to work with allies such as the European Union, the Lima Group, the OAS and the International Contact Group to increase multilateral pressure and thereby achieve a peaceful and democratic transition. ..

“Secretary Blinken and Acting President Guaidó discussed the urgent humanitarian needs in Venezuela that have forced nearly 5.5 million Venezuelans to flee Venezuela, and Secretary Blinken applauded efforts to find solutions to alleviate their suffering and pledged to continue supporting the United States, ”closed statement.

It was the first formal communication between Guaidó and Blinken, who had already argued that Joe Biden’s administration would continue recognizing him as a legitimate interlocutor to the detriment of Nicolás Maduro, whom he described as a “brutal dictator”.

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