Caracas, March 7 (RHC)-- The United States government has renewed its declaration of a "national emergency" over Venezuela for another year, which former President Barack Obama initially decreed in March 2015 -- renewing it every 12 months.
In response, the Venezuelan government said the renewal of this measure is "an historic error" in the context of the economic aggressions and threats of military intervention to which the U.S. has subjected the country.
In a statement sent to Congress, U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Venezuela continues to represent "a threat to U.S. policy." The decree against Venezuela includes sanctions against government officials within the framework of an economic blockade against the country that has cost around $35 billion U$D, according to complaints to the United Nations from the Venezuelan government.
Elliot Abrams, U.S. special envoy to Venezuela, affirmed that the White House does not rule out imposing secondary sanctions against the Venezuelan government. Abrams said the U.S. government has many plans on the table to be lodged against the government of the South American country, including possible military action.
The special envoy to the U.S. said they are considering imposing sanctions on actors from third-party countries in response to the situation in Venezuela. For the moment, Abrams said that "there will be more revocations and cancellations of visas" for officials linked to the Venezuelan government.
Abrams' words come after the White House Security Adviser John Bolton indicated that President Trump's administration will take measures against Cuba for supporting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.