US piles more pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro with imposition of fresh sanctions

The United States of America has moved to frustrate the efforts of the President of Venezuela over the lingering political crisis in his country with the imposition of fresh sanctions.

The Vice President of the US made the development known after a meeting with Latin American leaders including Venezuela’s self-declared interim president Juan Guaido in Colombia.

According to Pence, the fresh sanctions will affect allies of Maduro including four state governors and it comes after a weekend of violence that broke out between security forces loyal to Maduro and a US-backed opposition attempt to deliver aid into Venezuela.

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“The tragic events of this past weekend have only steeled the resolve of the United States of America to stand with you, to stand with freedom-loving people in Venezuela,” Pence told Guaido at the Lima group meeting in Colombia’s capital Bogota.

The move by the US comes hours after the use of force by troops loyal to Maduro on protesters and opposition figures trying to bring in much needed aid into Venezuela was condemned by the United Nations.

According to UN Human Rights Chief Michele Bachelete, Maduro should stop the use of excessive force by the Venezuelan security forces, as well as the involvement of pro-government groups.

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