US sanctions on Venezuela aim to cause civil war: Defense minister
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Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino says the new sanctions imposed on Venezuela aim to undermine the morale of the Venezuelan people.
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Venezuelan Defense Minister Chief Gen. Vladimir Padrino Lopez during a news conference at the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, October 31, 2023 (AP)
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino sharply criticized the latest wave of unilateral US sanctions against Venezuela, warning that they are intended to create the conditions for a civil war on Venezuelan soil.
"The new sanctions imposed on Venezuela aim to undermine the morale of the Venezuelan people, to push us into internal conflict, into a civil war, to divide us and make us fight among ourselves. Worse yet, they aim to sell off the Essequibo region as if it were a war trophy," Padrino said.
Padrino, speaking during celebrations marking the 16th anniversary of the Bolivarian Militia in the 23 de Enero Parish of Caracas, vowed that Venezuela would defend its sovereignty over the disputed Essequibo territory "with our nails, on every front."
He also praised the Bolivarian National Armed Forces for securing Venezuela's Atlantic coast maritime waters, ensuring the nation's right to free navigation.
'Multilateral system collapsing'
"We are living in a lawless world, where the multilateral system is collapsing, and institutions like the United Nations are withering," Padrino said, warning of a growing multi-faceted war fueled by ongoing US actions.
The minister further cautioned about the looming threat of a future conflict between the United States and China, attributing it to the decline of American power and Washington's refusal to relinquish its global hegemony.
"Two giants are clashing amid the restructuring of the new world order, paving the way for a multipolar world," he said. "We are living in a turbulent and distorted world that demands our full attention."
Maduro safeguards economic sovereignty
Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signed an economic emergency decree on Wednesday aimed at safeguarding Venezuela’s economic sovereignty in the face of renewed US sanctions.
Earlier this week, Maduro emphasized that Venezuela would be the first country to overcome the new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.
On Thursday, Maduro met with his economic team to assess the impact of Trump's 15% tariff hike on Venezuelan imports, vowing that Venezuela would confront and overcome any challenges.
The latest US measures follow previous actions, including a 25% tariff on imports from countries purchasing Venezuelan oil and gas and the revocation of licenses for foreign companies such as Chevron and Repsol to operate in Venezuela.
Trump slams tariffs on countries that purchase oil from Venezuela
On March 27, US President Donald Trump intensified economic pressure on Venezuela by declaring a 25% tariff on countries purchasing Venezuelan oil, linking this decision explicitly to Caracas' purported failure to honor political and migration agreements.
"This secondary tariff will take effect on April 2," Trump wrote on Truth Social, accusing the Venezuelan government of sending "tens of thousands" of migrants with a "very violent nature" to American soil.
Previously, Trump terminated a sanctions waiver that allowed Chevron to operate in Venezuela's oil sector since 2022.
China, as the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil, imported around 503,000 barrels per day in February, accounting for 55% of the country's total exports, while other major purchasers, including Spain, Italy, Cuba, and India, now encounter the possibility of trade penalties with the US.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has promised to counter the mounting economic pressure by the United States with a self-sufficient model under the slogan: "Made in Venezuela", declaring, “We will confront imperialist threats because we have an economic, social, and political model built in Venezuela. We simply do not depend on anyone.”
