WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement after the Biden Administration announced it will reimpose oil and gas sanctions on Venezuela, under the provisions of the Barbados Agreement.
“I welcome the Administration’s decision not to renew General License 44 and effectively reimpose oil and gas sanctions on Venezuela. This measure of relief was contingent upon Nicolas Maduro upholding his commitments to the people of Venezuela to pursue a free, fair, and transparent electoral process that would allow all Venezuelans to have a say in the future of their country. He has repeatedly undermined the Barbados Agreement and failed to uphold those commitments.
“I sincerely hope that the United States will continue working with democratic partners around the world to pressure the Maduro regime to allow Maria Corina Machado, who won the opposition primary last year, and all other candidates to participate in the election and fulfill other pledges made in Barbados. As long as the Maduro Regime continues to undermine the Barbados Agreement, the United States must also consider individual sanctions against those directly responsible for repressive actions against political candidates, business leaders, and campaign officials.”
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