Venezuela will move forward despite US ‘extraordinary threat’ of sanctions: FM

Venezuela says it will press ahead with its political and economic development despite the “extraordinary threat” of sanctions by the United States.

Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza told Russia’s Sputnik on Saturday that Caracas “will move forward regardless of what Washington does or does not do in relation to Venezuela.”

Washington and the European Union (EU) have an attitude of “ideologized lies” toward Caracas, even though it does not pose a threat to other counties, Venezuela's foreign minister said.

Earlier this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Guaido, in what was an indication that President Joe Biden is pursuing the same policy as his predecessor Donald Trump, regarding Venezuela.

The White House also said early this month that the Biden administration was in “no rush” to remove US sanctions against Venezuela.

Relations between Washington and Caracas were tense under Trump, who imposed crippling sanctions on Venezuela and its state oil company PDVSA.

Venezuela’s politics have been in turmoil since January 2019, when Guaido, former president of the National Assembly, unilaterally declared himself “interim president,” arguing that Maduro’s reelection the previous year had been fraudulent.

The Trump administration recognized Guaido as the “legitimate” leader of the oil-rich country and publicly pursued a regime change policy against Maduro.

Now the Biden administration has reaffirmed Washington’s recognition of Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president, ruling out negotiations with Maduro.

The European Union, however, has announced that it no longer considers Guaido interim president, describing him as a “privileged interlocutor.”

The status of interim president gives Guaido access to funds confiscated from Maduro by Western governments.

In a related development, Venezuela’s armed forces launched military exercises on Friday in an effort to unite civilian, military and police forces “to combat all present threats.”

The military exercises, named after the late former President Hugo Chavez — Supreme Commander Hugo Chavez Frias 2021— kicked off “to guarantee the comprehensive defense of the nation,” said, Admiral Remigio Ceballos, chief of staff of the Strategic Operational Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces.

Over 545,000 troops will take part in more than 76 exercises, he said.

The war games aim to ensure “the security of our oil installations, national electric system installations and strategic public services,” Ceballos added.

The military is scheduled to wrap up the maneuvers later on Sunday.

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