Delcy Rodríguez, the vice president of Venezuela, has voiced criticism over the recent reactivation of sanctions imposed by the US in response to the disqualification of opposition presidential candidate María Corina Machado. Rodríguez has even gone as far as to threaten the suspension of migrant repatriation flights from Caracas. In a statement on social media, Rodríguez warned that if the US intensifies its economic aggression against Venezuela at the request of extremist lackeys, repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants will be immediately revoked. Additionally, she stated that existing cooperation mechanisms would be reviewed as a countermeasure against any attempt to harm the Venezuelan oil and gas industry, which the US has threatened to sanction in April if Machado’s disqualification is not revoked.

Rodríguez concluded by affirming that Venezuela will continue its efforts to recover the economy with unity and its own efforts, despite the possible new sanctions announced by the US State Department. In response to the US threat to reactivate sanctions, the Venezuelan government issued a statement accusing the US administration of blackmail and interference in internal affairs. The government views this decision as an ultimatum against Venezuelan society and an attempt to impose a coup through coercion and threat. Venezuela strongly rejects Washington’s neocolonialist interventionism and asserts its right to exercise national sovereignty. The government reiterates its commitment to comply with laws and the national constitution while warning that it will take all necessary measures to ensure economic growth and social development amid economic hostilities.

The US announcement to reactivate sanctions against Venezuela comes after Machado’s disqualification and the failure to reverse it before mid-April. The targeted sectors include the state mining company as well as the oil and gas industries.