The president of the United States (USA), Donald Trump, acknowledged on Thursday that he is maintaining a blockade against Venezuela, as well as said that he considers imposing new coercive actions against the South American nation.
According to the Spanish news agency EFE, Trump acknowledged these actions at a press conference, when asked if he is considering “a blockade or quarantine in Venezuela”, to which he replied “yes, I am.”
During the press conference, the US president did not offer more details about the possible actions he will take against Venezuela, although he has already imposed an economic, financial and commercial blockade on the South American nation, which has left millions in losses against the country, death of more than 40,000 people, including minors, preventing them from receiving corresponding medical treatment, as well as the difficulty of accessing medical supplies and food.
Since last January 23 – after the rupture of diplomatic relations between the US and Venezuela, after their participation in the attempted coup against the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro -, the Trump administration has worsened its attacks against The South American nation.
In addition to coercive measures, among which is a criminal operation to steal assets of the state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) – backed by the Venezuelan right wing -, the US government has acknowledged the violation of Venezuelan airspace.
Last Sunday, the head of the Southern Command, Navy Admiral Craig Faller, said the US military “will continue to fly and operate wherever international standards apply, and that includes around Venezuela, South America and the world”, with the realization of what they call “surveillance flights”.
These statements were given after the Operational Strategic Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (Ceofanb) denounced, on Saturday, a new violation of Venezuelan airspace by spy planes of American origin when intercepting an intelligence aircraft belonging to the US while flying over the Venezuelan territory.
Last week, the sectoral vice president for Communication, Tourism and Culture, Jorge Rodríguez, revealed that 78 violations of Venezuelan airspace have been committed by US spy planes so far this year.