A U.S.-drafted resolution calling for a new presidential election in Venezuela was vetoed by Russia and China. At the same time, a Russia-drafted resolution affirming the government of President Nicolas Maduro’s authority to initiate international assistance failed to garner enough support (Reuters)
Venezuela Continues to Ship Oil, Despite U.S. Sanctions
Oil minister Manuel Quevedo told an energy conference in Saudi Arabia that Venezuelan oil exports stand at 1.2 billion barrels per day despite U.S. sanctions. A London-based shipment tracker noted higher sales to India and the United Kingdom (Wall Street Journal)
Guaido to Return to Venezuela
Opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president of Venezuela in January, said he will return to the country “despite the risks.” Guaido defied a court travel ban last week by traveling to Colombia to assist international efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Venezuelans (Reuters)
U.S. special envoy Elliott Abrams said Washington will soon announce new U.S. sanctions on high-ranking officials in President Nicolas Maduro’s regime, as well as individuals who handle their finances (Voice of America)
Univision Reporters to Be Deported From Venezuela
The U.S. television network said one of its news teams was briefly detained by Venezuelan authorities and is being deported following an interview with President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro halted the reporters’ questioning after they showed him footage of Venezuelans eating from a garbage truck, according to lead reporter Jorge Ramos (Reuters)
Pence to Meet With Venezuelan Opposition Leader in Bogota
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and opposition figure Juan Guaido are expected to meet in the Colombian capital today following deadly clashes at the border over the weekend as the opposition attempted to move humanitarian aid into Venezuela. At least four people were killed and three hundred injured in the violence, according to UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet (CNN)
Venezuela’s Maduro Moves to Block Aid Deliveries
President Nicolas Maduro ordered the closure of Venezuela’s border with Brazil and warned he may do the same with the Colombian border as the two neighboring countries work with opposition figure Juan Guaido to deliver aid to Venezuelans despite the regime’s ban on humanitarian assistance (CNN)
The UN refugee agency reported that the number of Venezuelan refugees now stands at 3.4 million, with five thousand people on average fleeing the country every day in 2018 (UNHCR)
Venezuela to Close Air and Sea Traffic Ahead of Opposition’s Aid Deadline
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said air and sea traffic from three Caribbean islands will be closed ahead of a Saturday deadline imposed by the Venezuelan opposition to allow humanitarian aid shipments into the country (New York Times)
Brazil to Begin Aid Shipments to Venezuelan Border
Brazil announced it will start delivering humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan border by Saturday at the request of opposition figure and interim president Juan Guaido (Guardian)
Trump Intensifies Calls for Venezuelan Regime Change
U.S. President Donald J. Trump used a speech in Miami yesterday to warn Venezuela’s disputed president, Nicolas Maduro, that while the U.S. seeks peaceful regime change in the country, “all options are on the table” (Politico)
Washington has urged Venezuela’s military to turn against Maduro and allow humanitarian aid to enter the country, which the Maduro government has refused (Reuters)
Maduro: Foreign Minister, U.S. Envoy Held Talks
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said his foreign minister, Jorge Arreaza, met twice with U.S. special envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams in New York and invited him to visit the country “privately, publicly, or secretly” (Associated Press)
Venezuela Opposition Names New Citgo Board
Opposition figure and interim president Juan Guaido announced a new six-member board for the U.S.-based subsidiary of state oil company PDVSA that he said is “free of corruption and without any partisan affiliation.” The Trump administration announced last month that any revenue earned by Citgo would be put into an account inaccessible to President Nicolas Maduro’s regime (Agence France-Presse)
Competing Demonstrations Held Across Venezuela
Rival demonstrations in support of and against President Nicolas Maduro’s regime took place in Caracas and other cities on Tuesday. Opposition leader Juan Guaido, called on the military to allow international aid shipments into Venezuela on February 23 (Al Jazeera)
U.S. Prepares UN Draft Resolution on Venezuela
The United States has drafted a resolution at the United Nations asking Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to press for new elections in Venezuela and urge Nicolas Maduro’s regime to allow international aid deliveries. Russia is expected to veto any such resolution (Agence France-Presse)
Venezuelan Forces Move to Block Aid Convoys
The Venezuelan military used an oil tanker and shipping containers to block a bridge linking Venezuela and Colombia as the opposition planned deliveries of international aid, according to the Colombian government (CNN)
The border city of Cucuta, Colombia, is one of three locations announced by opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim President Juan Guaido as collection points for the aid shipments. Maduro has long barred such assistance despite an intensifying humanitarian crisis (Associated Press)
Opposition: Attempt by Venezuelan Regime to Transfer Funds Halted
Opposition lawmaker Carlos Paparoni said that the Portugal-based bank Novo Banco halted a $1.2 billion transfer by President Nicolas Maduro’s government to banks in Uruguay. Paparoni hailed the move, saying it is “protecting the resources of all Venezuelans” (Reuters)
Regional Body Calls for Power Transition in Venezuela
Foreign ministers from countries across the Americas met yesterday in Ottawa where they agreed to support Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela. They also called on the country’s armed forces to “demonstrate their loyalty” to Guaido (CBC News)
Representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union also took part in the meeting. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in power since 2013, told a Spanish television network on Monday that “we prepare ourselves to defend our country” (BBC)
European States Back Venezuela’s Guaido
European countries including France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, already backed by the United States, as interim president of Venezuela and called on the country to hold new elections (Guardian)
Venezuela’s Guaido Promises Aid Convoys
Opposition leader Juan Guaido, who claimed the Venezuelan presidency last week, told the Associated Press that convoys carrying humanitarian aid from a “global coalition” will attempt to enter the country within a few weeks despite a government ban on such aid. Guaido said the move will test whether the military will “side with Nicolas Maduro” or allow the much-needed assistance (Associated Press)
Foreign Reporters Detained in Venezuela
Several Colombian and Spanish journalists working for the Spanish-language agency EFE were detained by Venezuelan authorities yesterday, according to the agency’s Caracas bureau chief. The arrests follow reports that two French journalists were arrested and two Chilean journalists were deported from the country (Reuters)
Venezuela Imposes Travel Ban on Opposition Leader
Venezuela’s supreme court, stacked with allies of President Nicolas Maduro, ordered financial restrictions and a travel ban for U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself president last week. Attorney General Tarek Saab said Guaido would be investigated for “serious crimes that threaten the constitutional order” (Guardian)
U.S. Sanctions Venezuela State Oil Company
The United States announced sanctions on Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, upping pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government as Washington and others across the Americas continue to back opposition leader Juan Guaido, who claimed the presidency last week (Wall Street Journal)
The fresh sanctions stop short of banning U.S. companies from purchasing Venezuelan oil but would redirect any revenue from such sales into blocked accounts, according to the Treasury Department (Reuters)
Maduro Makes Show of Force, Venezuelan Opposition Calls for More Protests
On state television yesterday, President Nicolas Maduro said “we’re ready to defend our homeland” as a platoon of soldiers shot rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft fire, seen as an attempt to bolster military support for Maduro. Opposition leader Juan Guaido, who claimed the presidency last week, called for further protests on Wednesday (Al Jazeera)
Venezuelan Defense Minister Backs Maduro
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said yesterday that opposition leader Juan Guaido’s move to claim the Venezuelan presidency was “reprehensible” as top military figures defended President Nicolas Maduro’s government (Financial Times)
The U.S. State Department announced it would remove nonessential staff and diplomats’ families from the country (Washington Post)
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Claims Presidency
Ten countries across the Americas, including the United States, Canada, and Brazil, recognized Juan Guaido, leader of Venezuela’s opposition-controlled National Assembly, as the country’s president after Guaido swore himself in yesterday (CBC)
President Nicolas Maduro, in power since 2013, broke diplomatic relations with the United States and ordered U.S. diplomats to leave Venezuela, a demand U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States would not comply with (Washington Post)
Venezuelan Opposition to March Against Maduro
Opposition protests calling for the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people across Venezuela today, the sixty-first anniversary of the overthrow of a military dictatorship. Pro-government demonstrations are also planned (Reuters)
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence declared his support for opposition leader Juan Guaido and the National Assembly in a video message and said Maduro “must go” in an op-ed (Wall Street Journal)
Maduro accused Pence of attempting to instigate a coup (Al Jazeera)