As Dictator Nicolás Maduro and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in Beijing to secure the strength of Venezuela’s economic funding as well as declare an “all-weather partnership” uniting the nations, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) took action.
In a press release, the Florida senator stated that “The Biden Administration cannot continue granting concessions or caving to the absurd demands of far-left progressives who are pressuring President Biden to lift sanctions against the narco-regime in Venezuela before free and fair elections are held.”
To address this concern, Sen. Rubio sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging that “targeted economic sanctions against the criminal regime remain in place,” as well as sanctions to be enforced on Chinese organizations that provide funds to the Maduro regime.
“The regime’s political and economic mismanagement has caused the largest refugee crisis in the world, which has driven more than 7 million Venezuelans to flee their homeland. To make things worse, the narco-regime continues to fund terrorist organizations in neighboring Colombia as well as fomenting instability and serving as sponsors of a major international drug trafficking ring that contributes to the growing opioid epidemic in our country,” wrote Sen. Rubio.
He would also write “Any sanctions that would benefit the Venezuelan regime, as well as on PDVSA, oil production, or refinement, or infusing Chinese cash into the Maduro regime is a direct threat against U.S. national security interests and the safety and wellbeing of our region. Doing so would open yet another door for China to increase economic and military influence in our hemisphere and undermine the prospects of a return to democratic order in Venezuela.”
Finally, Rubio pushed for transparency regarding risks surrounding Chinese entities and their support of the Maduro regime.
“I urge you to ensure all sanctions against Venezuela remain in place, and publicly communicate the risks Chinese entities are undertaking by supporting the Maduro regime and, should these warnings go unheeded, be prepared to fully enforce sanctions against these entities,” concluded Rubio.
Recently, Senator Rubio demanded answers from Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray concerning their alleged targeting of Catholics.
