Venezuelan opposition lobbied for US sanctions against Caracas: FM Arreaza
Venezuela’s foreign minister says members of the opposition in the country lobbied with the United States for the imposition of sanctions on Caracas and are now blaming the government for the bans.
The White House announced a new range of sanctions against Venezuela on Friday.
Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said in an interview with RT Spanish on Saturday that the opposition played a key role in the imposition of the sanctions on Caracas.
“They have been lobbying, going to Washington, to achieve those sanctions against Venezuela,” Arreaza said, referring to the oppositionists.
“Now they are trying to convince the people of Venezuela that the sanctions are the fault of [Venezuelan President] Nicholas Maduro. This is completely absurd… and the world must know this,” he said.
The Venezuelan foreign minister added that the opposition members who had lobbied for the sanctions had “betrayed their homeland” and had to be held accountable.
Earlier in August, US President Donald Trump said the US was prepared to launch a range of hostile measures against Venezuela, “including a possible military option, if necessary.”
Arreaza expressed hope that “such barbarity” would never occur. However, he said, if the US decided to wage war on Venezuela, “the responsibility for this will be borne exclusively by US President Donald Trump and the military-industrial complex, which is in control of US policy.”
“We will take all possible steps to protect our citizens. We have all the resources required to do so,” he said.
The Venezuelan foreign minister called on international organizations to act on the US hostility against Venezuela.
He said it was high time the international bodies “performed the function that they were created for.”
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