The United States President Donald Trump administration has on Wednesday imposed fresh sanctions as well as punitive measures over Venezuela and Cuba, attempting to ratchet up pressure on Cuba to put an end to its support for embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
According to Reuters news reports, while speaking in Miami, White House national security advisor John Bolton stated the US has targeted Cuban intelligence services and military, including an army-owned airline, for more sanctions, as well as, was also tightening trade and travel restrictions against Cuba.
Bolton’s speech was followed by the US state department’s Wednesday announcement that it was lifting a ban against American citizens filing lawsuits in courts against international firms using properties seized by the Cuban government since 1959 Fidel Castro’s revolution.
Trump’s decision drew strong criticism from Canadian and European allies, whose firms have significant interests in Cuba.
However, the Cuban government denounced Trump’s decision as “an attack on international law”.
Bolton, aiming at Venezuela, said Washington was also slated to imposing sanctions over Venezuelan central bank in order to prohibit institution accessing dollars – institution, what he described as much crucial to keeping Maduro in power. Also, Bolton announced fresh sanction against Nicaragua.
During a televised address, Venezuelan president called the US sanctions “totally illegal”. Maduro said, “Central banks around the world are sacred, all countries respect them,” adding the central bank would “confront and defeat” the US sanctions. He said, “To me, the empire looks crazy, desperate.”
Bolton has also warned “all external actors, including Russia” against the deployment of military assets in Venezuela to support Maduro. Bolton said, “The United States will consider such provocative actions a threat to international peace and security in the region.”
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded: “No one will rip the (fatherland) away from us, neither by seduction nor by force. We Cubans do not surrender.”