The US has responded to Maduro by continuing sanctions against Venezuela

The US responded to Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro by saying he would “keep in place” the policy of economic sanctions against the South American country until concrete steps are taken to “return to democracy”.

“Until Maduro and his followers repress the Venezuelan people and divert resources to corrupt practices, we will pressure the regime with economic sanctions,” a US State Department spokesman said in a statement on Monday.

Maduro asked US President Joe Biden to lift “all sanctions” imposed on Venezuela last Thursday (12), which he says are “criminal”.

In his response, a US State Department spokesperson urged Maduro to sit on the platform of opposition unity to “resolve Venezuela’s problems and restore democracy and the rule of law in the country.”

“Our sanctions against Venezuela remain in place. We will continue to impose sanctions on Venezuela in support of a return to democracy,” he stressed.

Maduro said last week that over the past eight years, “imperialism and its weak and extremist minions have stolen US$411 million a day from Venezuela,” which he described as “criminal theft.”

The Biden administration has made it conditional on sanctions relief for Maduro’s deals with the opposition at talks in Mexico City.

The United States failed to recognize the interim presidency of Juan Guaido in Venezuela two weeks ago, but it does not recognize Maduro’s government as legitimate.

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