US imposes Nicaragua, Cuba-related sanctions on several entities

The outgoing administration of US President Donald Trump has imposed sanctions on three Nicaraguan officials over their support for President Daniel Ortega's government.

The Trump administration has made a series of sanctions announcements since losing to Democrat Joe Biden in the disputed November 3 election. Biden is scheduled to be sworn in to office on Jan. 20.

The US Treasury Department on Monday said it imposed sanctions on officials including the vice president of the Nicaraguan Supreme Court in an attempt to target those who help the Ortega government, Reuters reported.

“This Administration remains committed to targeting the Ortega regime by seeking out and exposing those who continue to suppress the democratic will of the Nicaraguan people," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in the statement.

Marvin Ramiro Aguilar Garcia, Vice President of the Nicaraguan Supreme Court of Justice; Walmaro Antonio Gutierrez Mercadeo, a National Assembly deputy; and Fidel De Jesus Dominguez Alvarez, chief of the national police in the city of Leon, are the officials blacklisted by the US Treasury.

On Monday, the Trump administration also imposed Cuba-related sanctions on three businesses, claiming that that they are being run by the Cuban military. Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A., Financiera Cimex S.A. and Kave Coffee, S.A., are the companies which were blacklisted.

Nicaraguan sanctions strategy designed to fail: Analyst

Press TV asked American journalist and political commentator Don DeBar why the US is targeting President Ortega's government.

He said, “Part of it is domestic political considerations. You have the 'Contra-in-Exile' community in Florida, for example, who have helped place some of the ‘gusano’ politicians in office like Marco Rubio, likewise Ted Cruz in Texas. Then there are the corporations that used to super-exploit workers in Nicaragua the way they are super-exploited in Honduras, Columbia, Guatemala, etc., and they want their pound of flesh back.”

“And then there are the ideologues who cannot tolerate anyone exercising self-determination or sovereignty in opposition to control from Washington. Especially in the Western Hemisphere,” DeBar said.

"These sanctions are more piled upon previous layers, as with Cuba, of course, but also Venezuela, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Zimbabwe and others. They are very cruel and damaging to the people of the host countries when first installed, but the add-ons like these are almost hysterical in tone and impotent in effect. It is a perfect example of a helpless bully who cannot play with the other children and so tries to brutalize them to feel better. It's a strategy designed to fail," he added. 

Maduro: Pompeo imposes 'stupid sanctions' on Venezuela

The United States has imposed "stupid sanctions" on a Venezuelan company that assisted the country’s parliamentary elections.

On Friday, the United States imposed what Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called "stupid sanctions" on a Venezuelan company that assisted the country’s parliamentary elections.

Ex-Cle C.A., the Venezuelan subsidiary of a company by a similar name in Argentina, has "millions of dollars of contracts" with the government of Maduro, US officials said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that the company bought Chinese voting machines that were used in manipulating electoral process.

The Trump administration has waged a campaign of sanctions and diplomatic measures in a bid to oust Maduro. It has even repeatedly threatened to use military force to topple Maduro’s government.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk