Politicians across the state are both praising and reacting to the latest sanctions imposed against Venezuela.
The Trump Admin. Friday enacted sweeping financial sanctions on Venezuela, barring banks from any new financial deals with the government or state-run oil giant PDVSA.
The sanctions are bound to dramatically escalate tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. and exacerbate the country’s economic crisis.
The White House says in a statement that the measures “are carefully calibrated to deny the Maduro dictatorship a critical source of financing to maintain its illegitimate rule, protect the United States financial system from complicity in Venezuela’s corruption and in the impoverishment of the Venezuelan people, and allow for humanitarian assistance.”
Sen. Marco Rubio stands with the sanctions, stating “I commend the Trump administration for taking decisive and significant action to prevent the Maduro regime from using Wall Street to finance its repression and tyranny." Rubio included in a statement that "the United States remains committed to supporting the cause of freedom and democracy in Venezuela.”
“I commend President Trump for once again imposing tough sanctions against the Maduro regime," says Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, very much in-line with Rubio. "Clearly the Trump administration is listening to opposition leaders in Venezuela, the U.S. Congress, and members of the Venezuelan community in South Florida and has taken a firm stand to protect American values and interests in our hemisphere."
In unison, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen released a statement, noting the importance of barring access from Venezuela. "Preventing Maduro and his cronies access to the U.S. financial systems is vital and barring Citgo from transferring any profits to PDVSA reaffirms America’s commitment to the Venezuelan people in their continued push for freedom and democracy.”
The new actions prohibit dealings in new debt and equity issued by the government of Venezuela and its state oil company.
It also prohibits dealings in certain existing bonds owned by the Venezuelan public sector, as well as dividend payments to the government of Venezuela.