Venezuela accuses US of ‘blackmail’ over sanctions
Al Jazeera
The US reimposed sanctions after a ban blocking the candidacy of the opposition in Venezuela’s elections was upheld.
Venezuela has criticised Washington’s decision to reimpose oil and gas sanctions and warned it could halt deportation flights for Venezuelan migrants who are in the United States without documents.
“All of Venezuela rejects the rude and improper blackmail and ultimatum expressed by the US government,” Vice President Delcy Rodriguez wrote on X.
“If they take the wrong step of intensifying the economic aggression against Venezuela … as of February 13 repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants would be immediately cancelled.”
The US began repatriating Venezuelan migrants on chartered flights in October, after a deal was struck between Nicolas Maduro and President Joe Biden for the “orderly, safe and legal repatriation” of undocumented Venezuelan migrants.
Rodriguez said that all other areas of cooperation would be reviewed as a countermeasure to the “deliberate attempt to strike a blow to the Venezuelan oil and gas industry”.
