Vol. 79/No. 1      January 19, 2015

The sanctions deny travel visas and freeze any U.S. assets of current and former Venezuelan officials deemed by Washington to have been responsible for arrests, deaths and injuries during protests against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro between February and May 2014.

“The U.S. is trying to isolate Venezuela because Venezuela opposes U.S. domination of the economies of Latin American countries,” William Camacaro, senior analyst at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs and a member of the Bolivarian Circle of New York “Alberto Lovera,” told the Militant in a phone interview Jan. 5. “Venezuela has long opposed the U.S. embargo against Cuba, which still exists despite the re-establishment of diplomatic relations.”

Since the election of President Hugo Chávez in 1998 Washington has backed efforts to overturn the Venezuelan government — including the failed 2002 military coup against Chávez — and end its close trade and diplomatic ties with revolutionary Cuba.

“We have special relations with Venezuela,” Cuban President Raúl Castro told the Cuban national assembly Dec. 20. “We will continue supporting it amid attempts to destabilize the legitimate government of President Maduro.” Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who met with Maduro in Caracas Jan. 2, condemned the sanctions.  
 
 
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