News

The criminal Maduro narco-regime has repeatedly violated the Barbados agreement as it continues to undermine the leading Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado. Currently, several members of Machado’s campaign team remain arbitrarily detained. Every action taken by the criminal regime has reaffirmed their intent to jeopardize the legitimacy and integrity of a free, fair, and democratic electoral process in Venezuela.

U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jim Risch (R-ID) released a joint-statement on the Biden Administration’s decision not to extend a license to do business with Maduro’s oil and gas industry:

• “Today’s announcement that President Biden will not renew a general license to do business with the Maduro regime’s oil and gas sector is long-overdue and insufficient given the realities on the ground in Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro has violated yet another negotiated agreement by undermining the democratic opposition’s presidential candidate María Corina Machado. At the same time, Maduro represses Venezuelans at torture centers like El Helicoide and is unjustly holding members of Machado’s team.
  
• “Both the U.S. and the international community must respond to these assaults and continue to hold the Maduro regime accountable. For three long years, President Biden has repeatedly appeased and granted concessions to Maduro and his cronies, even as the criminal regime has increased repression on Venezuelan democratic opposition and continues to threaten neighboring democratic countries.
  
• “The Biden Administration should finally undertake diplomatic efforts to persuade the European Union and other democratic partners to increase sanctions on the regime and enforce the March 2020 indictment of Nicolás Maduro and members of Cártel de Los Soles.”

Flashback… Earlier this week, both Rubio and Risch joined colleagues in urging President Biden to stop emboldening the Maduro regime and to renew economic pressure by not renewing oil sanctions relief. 

Want more information?

• April 2024: Rubio, Cardin, Cassidy Issue Joint Statement on Venezuela
• March 2024: Rubio, Durbin, Cassidy, Cardin: “Maduro is Scared to Confront Machado in a Truly Democratic Process”
• January 2024: Rubio and Colleagues: The Time to Act on Venezuela is Now
• December 2023: Rubio Urges Biden to Reinstate Sanctions on Venezuelan Regime
• November 2023: ICYMI: The Biden Admin Must Stop Imposing its Naïve Policies on Venezuela
• October 2023: Rubio, Kaine on Venezuela’s Opposition Primary Elections
• October 2023: Rubio: Biden’s Concessions Help Maduro Maintain Authoritarian Grip on Venezuela