Venezuelan Foreign Minister Says U.S. Sanctions Will Fail

He stressed U.S. hypocrisy in claiming Venezuela represses protesters, given the recent CIA torture report and attacks by U.S. police on black people.

Ramirez said that the U.S. policy to impose sanctions will not have the desired effect and conversely, is “destined to fail.” 

According to Ramirez, these sanctions “far beyond hurting us, strengthen us” as they draw attention to the “true face of North American imperialism.”

Ramirez pointed out the contradiction of imposing sanctions on Venezuela at the same the States admitted that that sanctions and policies aimed at isolating Cuba have failed.

Ramirez questioned the elements of U.S. society President Obama is bowing to by approving these sanctions against Venezuela, speculating that the far right or transnational corporations are behind the push.

He also claimed that the sanctions are ideologically driven, saying, “They want to sanction us because we carry the banner of socialism.”

Foreign Minister Ramirez stated that the government of Venezuela intends to denounce the actions of the U.S. government in all forums.

These sanctions were promoted by a wave of right-wing political violence, which left at least 43 people dead.

The government of Venezuela has already received support from other countries in the region and regional blocs such as MERCOSUR and ALBA. Ramirez said that he expects UNASUR to also back Venezuela against these sanctions.

Other members of the Venezuelan government have also come out strongly against the sanctions.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Twitter: “President Obama has taken a false step against our country, by signing the sanctions, despite the national and continental rejection of them. On the one hand, he recognizes the failure of the aggression against and blockade of Cuba … which with dignity, has resisted and won, and on the other hand he has started a stage of increased aggressions against (Venezuela).”

The head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, slammed the United States Wednesday in an opinion piece published in the New York Times. “While Congress accused Venezuela’s government of cracking down on dissent, African-American communities across the United States expressed outrage over police killings of unarmed black men.”

In his New York Times piece Cabello defended the Venezuelan government’s handling of the opposition violence, arguing authorities responded to the unrest with restraint. “Every effort was made to ensure that only protesters who directly violated laws or placed the lives of others in danger were detained,” he stated.

Venezuelans held a massive rally Monday, rejecting the sanctions.