[ad_1]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States intends to strengthen the sanctions imposed on Venezuela, but believe that it is less necessary to immediately target its energy sector, given the decline in production of the oil company managed by the United States. Member State of OPEC, said Wednesday a senior official of the US administration.
PHOTO FEATURE: Oil pumps are seen in Lake Maracaibo, Lagunillas, Ciudad Ojeda, in the state of Zulia, Venezuela, March 20, 2015.REUTERS / Isaac Urrutia / Photo File – S1BETFVJVBAB / Photo File
The US government has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Venezuelan political and military figures close to Socialist President Nicolas Maduro, accused of violating human rights and causing the collapse. country's economy.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration weighed up the sanctions by targeting an oil services company run by the Venezuelan army or by limiting insurance coverage for oil shipments.
These actions would be based on last year's ban on US banks for any new debt deal with the Venezuelan authorities or the oil giant PDVSA. [PDVSA.UL].
Asked by reporters that the US government has slowed down pressure for sectoral sanctions, the senior official has described them as part of the many "tools" he keeps in reserve. "Regarding Venezuela, all options are on the table," said the official who requested anonymity.
"The fact is that the most severe sanction against oil and oil production in Venezuela is called Nicolas Maduro, and the inefficiency of PDVSA," said the official.
Crude oil production in Venezuela reached its lowest level in 28 years in 2017, due to mismanagement and corruption.
"In the end, Nicolas Maduro ensured that PDVSA is truly on the ground and making it more of a non-factor factor," he said.
Nearly 2 million Venezuelans have fled since 2015, driven by shortages of food and medicine, hyperinflation and violent crime. The exodus has submerged neighboring countries.
Maduro, who denies the limitation of political freedoms, said he was the victim of an "economic war" led by US-backed opponents.
The Trump administration also plans to increase economic pressure on Cuban armed forces and intelligence services, the official said.
In his speech last month at the United Nations, President Donald Trump associated the Venezuelan crisis with "his Cuban sponsors".
"This is a message that we will continue to broadcast, but frankly, it is a message the region needs to talk about," he said, noting that John Bolton, Trump's national security advisor, should give public explanations about it soon.
"The question of Cuban participation in Venezuela is a fact. It's not a theory, it's not a story, "said the manager.
Roberta Rampton's report; Edited by Tom Brown
