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USA sanctions Russian oil company for links with Maduro 0:30
(CNN) - The Trump administration announced Tuesday sanctions against a Russian oil company accused of supporting the regime of Nicolás Maduro: this is the last in a series of actions aimed at forcing the Venezuelan leader out of power.
A senior administration official said the measures against Rosneft Trading SA, a subsidiary of the Russian company Rosneft Oil Company, was "another great step to achieve maximum pressure."
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The sanctions also point to the president and director of Rosneft, Didier Casimiro, whom an official described as "the main European intermediary to help Maduro evade the sanctions."
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that "as the main negotiator of the global agreements for the sale and transport of oil in Venezuela, Rosneft Trading has supported the dictatorial Maduro, allowing his repression of the Venezuelan people."
A government official, during a call with journalists, said Rosneft's financial support "is what the Maduro regime has used to maintain its military forces, its oppressive forces against the people of Venezuela" and the sanctions should "have a significant impact on the Maduro regime ”.
The announcement of these sanctions comes weeks after the visit made to Washington by the Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, whom the United States and dozens of other countries consider the legitimate president of Venezuela. Guaidó was recognized by President Donald Trump during the State of the Union speech and the two met privately in the White House. During that meeting, Trump promised to take additional measures against the Maduro regime, a source familiar with the meeting at that time told CNN.
The senior official also told reporters on Tuesday that "this decision was approved by the president himself." Another senior official stressed that Pompeo met on Saturday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Munich, Germany, "and they discussed this."
Guaidó celebrated the new sanctions and wrote on Twitter that the Russian oil company was sanctioned "for being complicit in the dictatorship."
Russian oil company Rosneft Trading SA has been sanctioned for being complicit in the dictatorship.
This news is a victory!
Whoever supports the dictator, whoever he is, wherever he comes from, must bear the consequences.
Those who collaborate with democracy will be welcome. pic.twitter.com/ywMSeSWDMd
- Juan Guaidó (@jguaido) February 18, 2020
“This news is a victory! Whoever supports the dictator, whoever he is, wherever he comes from, must bear the consequences. Those who collaborate with democracy will be welcome, ”added the leader in his Twitter post.
An official indicated that the United States is currently in a “50-60%” of its maximum pressure campaign. Then he added: "We hope we don't have to reach a maximum pressure of 100%." Towards the future, officials reiterated that "all options" remain on the table.
More than a year after the United States recognized Guaidó as interim president of Venezuela, his campaign of selective sanctions has not yet given the desired result. Maduro has refused to leave office and retains control of many sectors of power in the country. Both Guaidó and Pompeo have hinted that they do not plan to negotiate with Maduro.
"The dictatorship ended that opportunity," Guaido told CNN in mid-January.
Guaidó's visit to the USA: victory or failure? 1:16Previously, the Trump administration has condemned Russia's support for the Maduro regime. In May of last year, Pompey claimed that Russia had persuaded Maduro not to leave the country.
Under the sanctions announced Tuesday, “all assets and interests owned by Rosneft Trading SA and Didier Casimiro that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons, and any entity that is owned, directly or indirectly, 50% or more by the designated individual and entity are blocked and must be reported ”to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, according to the United States Department of the Treasury.
The sanctions will be suspended, the official explained, when Rosneft stops doing business with the Maduro regime and allows a democratic transition to take place. The official also warned that all companies participating in Rosneft Trading "are under notice that they are subject to penalties."
There will be a 90-day reduction period, and in terms of a potential impact on the oil markets, a senior official said that these are "adequately stocked" and predicted that "while this is a serious action, global markets will remain stable. "
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Speaking from Caracas, Ricardo Cusanno, president of the Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce (Fedecamaras) warned about the consequences of the sanctions. “Collateral damage has been extremely large. People perceived more as a total embargo [against Venezuela], than some sanctions aimed at specific objectives. ”
"I think there has been very bad communication from those who imposed the sanctions," Cusanno concluded.
Betsy Klein and Jennifer Hansler reported from Washington. Stefano Pozzebon reported from Caracas.
Nicolás MaduroPetroleraRusiaSancionesEconomic songs