Venezuela: Resistance or disintegration?

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Russia says world should foster Venezuela talks, not impose agenda

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov addresses the audience during the inauguration of the Statue of the Republic at the Capitol, in Havana, Cuba July 24, 2019. REUTERS/Fernando Medina

HAVANA July 24, 2019 - The international community should continue fostering dialogue between the government in Venezuela and the opposition, but not in order to impose its own agenda, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters during a visit to Havana.

In the joint news conference with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez, Lavrov said Havana and Moscow agree that Venezuela’s political crisis should be resolved pacifically through dialogue and without foreign interference, in a jibe at the West.

Both countries are staunch allies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro while most Western powers have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s legitimate leader, arguing that Maduro’s 2018 re-election was fraudulent.

Talks between the Venezuelan government and the country’s opposition are continuing in Barbados, the foreign ministry of mediator Norway said late last week in a rare statement about the progress of the discussions. This was the latest round of talks that began in Norway in May in an effort to resolve the stalemate resulting from Maduro’s disputed re-election.

“Regarding the contacts stimulating direct dialogue between the government and opposition - we want these to develop but again we want to mention that these should strengthen dialogue and not aim to impose” certain results, Lavrov said.

Russia’s foreign ministry website on Tuesday cited interviews Lavrov had given in Latin America in which he said the situation in Venezuela was changing for the better.

Moscow had been in touch with Venezuela’s opposition and told it not to “decide its domestic problems by provoking external interference,” Lavrov was quoted as saying.

Rodriguez said on Wednesday Cuba remained profoundly loyal to the administration of Maduro.

 

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Russia says world should foster Venezuela talks, not impose agenda

HAVANA July 24, 2019 - The international community should continue fostering dialogue between the government in Venezuela and the opposition, but not in order to impose its own agenda, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters during a visit to Havana.

Lavrov says that the US attempts to provoke a colorful revolution have failed.

Lavrov Confirms U.S. Attempts To Destroy Venezuela Have FAILED
By Paul Antonopoulos - Jul 24, 2019

Large-scale military drills in Venezuela will be held in 3 stages — Maduro
25 JUL, 2019

 

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Venezuela: US conducting ‘economic terrorism’ – Iranian FM Zarif

 

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U.S. sanctions target food subsidy scam in Venezuela


The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on 10 people and 13 groups in a Venezuelan food subsidy scheme that lined the pockets of President Nicolas Maduro, his stepsons and others while ordinary Venezuelans suffer food shortages, the U.S. Treasury said.

The department said Colombian national Alex Nain Saab orchestrated a vast corruption network for food imports and distribution in Venezuela. He profited from overvalued contracts, including the government’s food subsidy program.

Saab bribed Maduro’s three stepsons to win no-bid, overvalued government contracts, said Sigal P. Mandelker, under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

“Alex Saab engaged with Maduro insiders to run a wide-scale corruption network they callously used to exploit Venezuela’s starving population,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

“Treasury is targeting those behind Maduro’s sophisticated corruption schemes, as well as the global network of shell companies that profit from” the country’s military-controlled food distribution program, he said.

The department said Saab became involved with the food subsidy program in 2016, when he set up a corporate structure to acquire food outside the country and ship it to Venezuela.

Saab reaped profits and imported only a fraction of the food needed for the subsidy program, it said.

Treasury alleged the individuals hit by sanctions had enriched themselves through government contracts, including Maduro’s stepsons Walter, Yosser and Yoswal Gavidia.

Saab also began in 2018 to help the Venezuelan government liquidate gold mined in Venezuela and convert it into foreign currency, Treasury said. The gold was then flown to destinations including Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, it said.

The United States imposed sanctions on the Venezuelan gold sector last year. U.S. envoy to Venezuela Elliott Abrams estimated on Wednesday that Maduro’s government had sold roughly $1 billion in gold in 2019.

Under siege, Venezuelan opposition lawmakers keep their congress alive

Venezuela's opposition says President Nicolas Maduro is seeking to close down the last institutional space they have left to contest his government - the National Assembly legislature, headed by Juan Guaido.

 

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Maduro asks Colombia's military to 'disobey' orders against Venezuela
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday called on Colombia's military to "disobey orders to disrupt Venezuela's peace," in the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the neighboring South American countries.

Maduro frequently calls Colombian President Ivan Duque a lackey for the United States and accuses him of conspiring to overthrow him. Duque says Maduro provides a safe haven to leftist Colombian rebel groups and has accused him of providing arms to the leadership of the National Liberation Army (ELN).

“To the armed forces of Colombia, let us unite in one sole military force in the spirit of the great fatherland to unite our peoples in peace, to reject gringo military bases in Colombia, to reject plans for military aggression against Venezuela,” Maduro said in a state television broadcast.

“To the armed forces of Colombia, who receive daily orders to conspire against Venezuela’s peace: Disobey orders to disrupt Venezuela’s peace,” he added.

Venezuela opposition divided by proposal for Iraq-style 'oil-for-food' program

A proposal to modify U.S. oil sanctions on Venezuela to allow crude exports to be bartered for food has divided the country's opposition between those who say the move would stave off famine and those who predict President Nicolas Maduro would abuse it.

Henri Falcon, the former governor of western Lara state, said Thursday he wrote the United Nations and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs requesting such an exemption for food and medicine imports.

Falcon attained international prominence last year when he broke a boycott to challenge Maduro in a vote many opposition parties deemed a sham. He faces an uphill battle to convince the United States and other opposition politicians of the merits of the program.

The U.N. implemented a similar program in Iraq, another oil-dependent economy, from 1996 to 2003 to help citizens cope with U.N. sanctions after former leader Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990.

Through early 2019, the United States was Venezuela’s largest crude importer. State oil company PDVSA [PDVSA.UL] got cash from the oil it sent to U.S. refiners, while it used exports to other major customers like China’s CNPC and Russia’s Rosneft to pay off debt.

But since the Treasury Department sanctioned PDVSA as part of the Trump administration’s bid to pressure Maduro to step down amid a hyperinflationary economic collapse, PDVSA’s shipments to the United States have disappeared, and Venezuela’s crude production has fallen to around half last year’s levels.

That has reduced the government revenue available to import food and medicine, in short supply for years. Defenders of the sanctions argue that any oil sale proceeds are more likely to be embezzled than used to import humanitarian goods.

 

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Venezuelan armed forces condemn opposition's demand to re-join Rio Treaty
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said that the treaty is "an instrument of domination and interventionism that goes against independence and sovereignty of peoples".

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez © EPA-EFE/Miguel Gutiérrez

CARCAS, July 25, 2019 - The Venezuelan Armed Forces condemn the actions of the opposition who announced plans to re-join the Inter-American Treaty on Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty), Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on Wednesday.

"The national armed forces decisively condemn dark intentions of the pro-imperialist political minority which demonstrates its anti-patriotism by demanding to use the Inter-American Treaty on Reciprocal Assistance," Lopez wrote on his official Twitter account.

He added that this treaty is "an instrument of domination and interventionism that goes against independence and sovereignty of peoples."

The Venezuelan parliament controlled by the opposition approved a law on re-joining the Inter-American Treaty on Reciprocal Assistance that allows a signatory to ask other treaty members for military help.

The Inter-American Treaty on Reciprocal Assistance was signed in 1947 in Rio de Janeiro by most Latin American countries. The treaty stipulates that an attack against one signatory is considered as an attack against all other signatories as well. Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua later withdrew from the treaty.

Large-scale military drills in Venezuela will be held in 3 stages — Maduro
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that over one million people will be involved in the drills over the course of three stages.

© EPA-EFE/Rayner Pena

CARACAS, July 24, 2019 - Large-scale military drills of Venezuelan Armed Forces will be held in three stages and end on August 30, President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday in a speech broadcast on Twiiter.

The first stage of drills — "Simon Bolivar's Liberation Campaign 2019" — will last for five days, on July 24-28, on the national territory," Maduro said.

The second stage will be held on July 28-August 7. During the third stage, on August 7-30, the military exercise will mostly focus on fighting against criminal groups operating near Venezuela's borders. "We have already had several victories over cross-border criminal activities and drug trafficking. We will continue defending our country with even more energy and more decisiveness," Maduro noted.

He added that over one million people will be involved in the drills over the course of three stages.

The last large-scale military drills were held in Venezuela in February.

US aircraft violates Venezuelan airspace for second time in last 3 days — minister
Last Saturday, the Venezuelan Defense Ministry said that a US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft had violated Venezuela's airspace.

Venezuelan Minister of Communications and Information Jorge Rodriguez © EPA-EFE/RAUL MARTINEZ

CARACAS, July 22, 2019 - A US reconnaissance aircraft has violated the Venezuelan airspace for the second time in three days, Minister of Communications and Information Jorge Rodriguez said on Monday.

"At this moment, the same or very similar aircraft is once again crossing into our zone of responsibility around the airport in Maiquetia," Rodriguez told a press conference that was broadcast on Twitter.

Last Saturday, the Venezuelan Defense Ministry said that a US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft had violated Venezuela's airspace. Several Venezuelan planes were sent to intercept the reconnaissance aircraft. The ministry said that after this, the US aircraft "changed its course and left the region."

A spokesperson for the US Southern Command said that the aircraft was carrying out tasks in the international aispace over the Caribbean.

According to Rodroguez, US military aircraft have violated Venezuela's airspace 78 times since the start of the year. The Venezuelan authorites believe that US aircraft were collecting reconnaissance on those missions.

US statements about interference of some countries in Latin America "ridiculous" — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov © Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

HAVANA, July 24, 2019 - Statements of US officials that some countries from the Eastern Hemisphere should not cooperate with Latin American countries are ridiculous, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.

"To be honest, it is just ridiculous to hear statements from the US that some from the Eastern Hemisphere should not have partners in the Western Hemisphere, and vice cersa. Look at all the places where US military bases are stationed. That's why there is no ground for serious conversation here," Lavrov said.

"When it comes to statements that some countries have nothing to do in Latin America, we have heard about it many times," the foreign minister noted. "Apart from [US Secretary of State] Michael Pompeo, [US National Security Advisor] John Bolton also talked about this. He also said recently that Iran and Hezbollah are interfering and undermining stability in Latin America. The scale and depth of this analysis deserves special commentary," Lavrov said.

 

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Russia's Lavrov says Venezuela dialogue should have 'no preconditions'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday a dialogue to resolve Venezuela's political crisis should have "no preconditions," as he visited the small South American country of Suriname at the end of a multi-nation Latin American tour.

U.S. Marines 'likely' to enter Venezuela, says socialist party No. 2

Venezuelan Socialist Party Vice President Diosdado Cabello on Saturday said U.S. Marines will "likely" enter the South American country, a week after a confrontation between aircraft belonging to the two countries' armed forces.

“We are few, a small country, we are very humble, and here it is likely that the U.S. Marines enter. It is likely that they enter,” Cabello told the audience of the Sao Paulo Forum, a gathering of leftist politicians and activists from across Latin America, without citing evidence.

“Their problem will be getting out of Venezuela.”

Cabello also presides over the Constituent Assembly, a legislative superbody loyal to socialist President Nicolas Maduro which the opposition does not recognize. He is widely viewed as the second-most powerful official in Venezuela’s government, after Maduro.

The comments came a week after the U.S. military accused a Venezuelan fighter aircraft of “aggressively” shadowing a U.S. Navy plane in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea. Venezuela’s government said the “reconnaissance and intelligence aircraft” had entered its airspace.

Ecuador to require visas for Venezuelan migrants: Moreno

Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno on Friday signed a decree requiring Venezuelan citizens, who until now could cross the border with a passport or other form of identification, to have a visa to enter the country.

 

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I just wanted to point out this U.S. Military base in Honduras - it's claimed to be the largest U.S. Military base in Latin America and strategically placed to serve any military operations in Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba.

Max Blumenthal drops by the largest US military base in Latin America

July 20, 2019 - The Grayzone visited Soto Cano or Palmerola air base. This is the largest US military base in Latin America. It is the center of US influence not just in Honduras, but across the entire region.

And it’s really why the US is fighting so hard to preserve the corrupt and deeply unpopular government of Juan Orlando Hernández, because this country, Honduras, is strategically located. And so it’s a place where the US projects its power toward Venezuela, toward Nicaragua, toward Cuba.

In fact, during the 1980s, this base was a staging point for counterinsurgency operations by the US-backed Contras, overseen by John D. Negroponte, in hunter-killer operations that killed as many as 30,000 people in a covert war inside Nicaragua against the socialist Sandinista movement.

It’s basically a city where some 500 to 600 US troops live. Now they claim that it’s a Honduran air base, but people in Honduras consider that an absolute joke.

People in this country are outraged that this base is here, because it’s there’s no war going on in this country. And this base is actually the source of the repression that so many people feel.

It’s where Honduran military train with the US, especially the Honduran military police, who are used as a private praetorian guard for JOH, Juan Orlando Hernández, the repressive and corrupt, US-backed regime which has stolen two elections.

Published on Jul 20, 2019 (12:34 min.)


Venezuelan president thanks Russia and China for help in restructuring economy

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro © Mikhail Metzel/TASS

CARACAS, July 27, 2019 - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has expressed gratitude to specialists from Russia, China, India and Turkey for assisting in developing and restructuring the Latin American country's economy.

"I thank for all the assistance provided to us by China, for advice from experts who help us implement our economic program. I thank Russian experts who maintain a dilaogue and consultations with us. I also thank experts from India, Turkey," Maduro said in a speech broadcast on Periscope.

He noted that Venezuela started to restructure its economy to remove dependence on oil revenues. "We had a deformed economic model, and it put us in a dependent position," he added.

Venezuela will not focus on developing agricultural and indutrial sectors, he said. "We will produce everything we need by ourselves," Maduro concluded.

 

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Venezuela is terrorist sanctuary: Colombian president

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has turned his country into a terrorist sanctuary and committed the grave error of protecting guerrilla groups and drug traffickers, Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Monday, as tensions between the neighboring countries escalated once again.

Russian foreign ministry has occasional contacts with Venezuelan opposition: RIA

Russian officials are in contact with representatives of Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido, RIA news agency reported on Monday, citing Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Maduro says missing FARC leaders are 'welcome in Venezuela'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Sunday said two former FARC commanders from neighboring Colombia whose whereabouts are unknown were "welcome in Venezuela," a statement likely to fuel criticism that he is providing a safe haven for armed groups.

 

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The U.S. Commerce is only looking after "it's own interests" in it's offer to help Venezuela - "by privatizing any investment"? Privatizing generally means "foreign interests" would be controlling assets.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Ross pledges support for Venezuela reconstruction

The United States is ready to support pro-market reforms and privatizations in Venezuela with investment and credit to reverse socialism and rebuild a ruined economy, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Thursday.

There will be an immediate need for capital infusions to bridge the lack of liquidity in Venezuela once the internationally recognized government of opposition leader Juan Guaido takes over, Ross said at a meeting on the reconstruction of Venezuela.

In the long term, however, Venezuela has 300 billion barrels of oil, gold and other mineral riches to rebuild its economy, he told the gathering of infrastructure company executives in Brasilia.

Ross said the “terrible” mismanagement of the economy by socialist governments had to be reversed first by boosting private enterprise and investment to later restore sustainable growth with an infusion of capital and management skills to rehabilitate the oil, gas and electricity industries.

“For immediate relief, the United States will ease sanctions, promote domestic and international trade credit, deploy technological advisers and engage international financial institutions to rebuild confidence in Venezuela’s new economic policies,” he said. (B.S. !!!)


Colombia probes who is behind signs that threaten Venezuelan migrants
Colombia is looking into dozens of signs with threatening messages about Venezuelan migrants that were posted in the northeastern city of Bucaramanga and which bear the name of a crime gang, authorities said.

“The time has come for a cleansing of all Bucaramanga. Homeless people and thieves, who generally are Venezuelans, will hit the floor, as will those who take them in,” said the signs, many of which are attached to trees.

“Those who have Venezuelan employees have 48 hours to replace them,” the posters, signed by the Aguilas Negras crime gang, added.

The Aguilas Negras are a drug trafficking group largely composed of former right-wing paramilitary fighters. They are well-known for threatening social cleansing against marginalized groups in areas where they are active.

Some 38,000 Venezuelans live in Bucaramanga, according to figures from Colombia’s migration agency.

Colombia’s vice-president Marta Lucia Ramirez said the country would adopt security measures to protect migrants from potential xenophobic attacks.

“Any threat to the lives of the Venezuelan or Colombian-Venezuelan population that has come to Colombia is a crime and there will be judicial and criminal consequences for those responsible for these pamphlets,” Ramirez told journalists.

In a statement late on Wednesday Colombia’s migration agency rejected the threats and said it would meet with local authorities to review the situation.

 

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Trump says U.S. blockade or quarantine of Venezuela under consideration

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was considering a quarantine or blockade of Venezuela, as the United States steps up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro to relinquish power.

Trump did not elaborate on when or how such a blockade could be imposed, and his administration has so far focused on diplomatic and economic pressure against Maduro while steering clear of any military action.

Asked by a reporter whether he was considering such a measure, given the amount of involvement by China and Iran in Venezuela, Trump said: “Yes, I am.” He gave no details. Venezuela’s Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

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U.S. Commerce Secretary Ross pledges support for Venezuela reconstruction

Bolton, Ross to give U.S. 'big presence ' at Venezuela summit in Peru: U.S. official

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton and U.S. Secretary Wilbur Ross will speak at a conference on Venezuela in Peru next week as part of a campaign to force President Nicolas Maduro to relinquish power, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.

Maduro says he 'repudiates' Trump statement on possible Venezuela blockade

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday said he rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's statement about a possible blockade of the South American country, adding that its seas would remain "free and independent."

Venezuela government, opposition hold talks in Barbados as Maduro slams sanctions
The government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition are continuing to hold talks in Barbados in an effort to find ways to resolve the Latin American country's political crisis, the Foreign Ministry of mediator Norway said on Friday.

U.S. to outline plans to help Venezuela after Maduro leaves: U.S. official

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will outline Washington's plans to help rebuild Venezuela in the event President Nicolas Maduro leaves - at a conference in Lima next week, a senior U.S. administration official said on Friday.

U.S. bars two Venezuelan officials from traveling to U.S
The United States said on Friday it would bar two Venezuelan officials accused of human rights violations from traveling to the United States in its latest action to pressure Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro into stepping down.

 

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U.S. opposes new vote in Venezuela with Maduro still in power: Bolton

Washington is opposed to new elections in Venezuela while President Nicolas Maduro remains in power because his government could manipulate the electoral system in his favor, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Monday.

Bolton warns China, Russia not to double down on support of Maduro
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton on Monday warned China and Russia not to double down in support of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying Venezuela might not repay its debt to them after Maduro falls.

Colombia to give citizenship to babies of Venezuelan migrants

Colombia will give citizenship to more than 24,000 children born to Venezuelan migrant parents in Colombia, to prevent the children from being stateless and less able to access education and healthcare, President Ivan Duque said on Monday.

 

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Trump freezes all Venezuelan government assets in bid to pressure Maduro
WASHINGTON August 6, 2019 - U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a freeze on all Venezuelan government assets in the United States on Monday, sharply escalating an economic and diplomatic pressure campaign aimed at removing socialist President Nicolas Maduro from power.

The executive order signed by Trump goes well beyond the sanctions imposed in recent months against Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA [PDVSA.UL] and the country’s financial sector, as well as measures against dozens of Venezuelan officials and entities.

Trump’s action, the toughest yet against Maduro, not only bans U.S. companies from dealings with the Venezuela government but also appears to open the door to possible sanctions against foreign firms or individuals that assist it.

Russian and Chinese companies are among those still doing significant business in the South American OPEC nation.

"All property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela that are in the United States ,,, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in", according to the executive order released by the White House.

 

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Trump freezes all Venezuelan government assets in bid to pressure Maduro
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a freeze on all Venezuelan government assets in the United States on Monday, sharply escalating an economic and diplomatic pressure campaign aimed at removing socialist President Nicolas Maduro from power.

U.S. ready to target other countries for supporting Venezuela's Maduro

U.S. national security adviser John Bolton on Tuesday said Washington was ready to impose sanctions on any international company doing business with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a sharp escalation of U.S. pressure on the leftist leader.

New Venezuela sanctions protect Citgo, encourage debt talks: opposition

Venezuela's opposition on Tuesday celebrated a sweeping U.S. sanctions order against the government of President Nicolas Maduro, saying the measure would protect Venezuela-owned U.S.-based refiner Citgo from seizure by creditors.

Venezuela says new Trump executive order formalizes 'blockade'

Venezuela's foreign ministry on Tuesday said a new move by U.S. President Donald Trump to freeze all the country's assets in the United States was an effort to "formalize a criminal economic, financial, and commercial blockade that has already started."

Russia says U.S. asset freeze on Venezuela is illegal: RIA
Russia's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that a move by Washington to freeze all Venezuelan government assets in the United States was illegal and amounted to "economic terror", the RIA news agency reported.

New U.S. action forces choice between doing business with Caracas or Washington: Bolton

U.S. President Donald Trump's new executive order on Venezuela means that U.S. sanctions can now be imposed on any business done with the Venezuelan government, White House national security adviser John Bolton told reporters on Tuesday.

Canada looking closely at U.S. freeze of Venezuelan government assets

Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland on Tuesday said Canada was examining the United States' move to freeze all Venezuelan government assets, but stopped short of saying whether Canada would take the same path.