Venezuelan President Maduro Condemns New US Sanctions. Wants Additional Powers To Deter U.S. 'Aggression'

BBC: Venezuelan leader Maduro condemns new US sanctions

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called the latest US sanctions "the most aggressive, unjust and harmful step that has ever been taken by the US against Venezuela".

In a televised address, Mr Maduro named one of seven officials sanctioned by the US as his new interior minister.

He also announced he would seek special powers from the National Assembly "to defend the integrity of the country".

Tensions between the two countries have been rising for months.

More News On Venezuelan President Maduro Condemning New US Sanctions

Venezuela's Maduro seeks decree powers to face U.S. 'imperialism' -- Reuters
Venezuela's President Seeks Increased Power -- AP
Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro Asks Special Powers To Deter US Sanctions 'Aggression' -- IBTimes
Maduro: US trying to ‘defeat’ Venezuela govt with sanctions, we’ll fight back -- RT
Venezuela's Maduro hails sanctioned officials, names one minister -- Reuters
U.S. declares Venezuela a national security threat, sanctions top officials -- Reuters
Venezuela recalls its envoy to Washington over US Sanctions -- AFP
Obama declares Venezuela a national security threat -- Al Jazeeera
EU rules out Venezuela sanctions for now -- Gulf Today
Fidel Castro and Evo Morales Condemn US Sanctions on Venezuela -- Telesur

President Obama Declares Venezuela A Threat To U.S. National Security

Reuters: Obama declares Venezuela a threat to U.S. national security

(Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama issued an executive order on Monday declaring Venezuela a national security threat, sanctioning seven individuals and expressing concern about the Venezuelan government's treatment of political opponents.

"Venezuelan officials past and present who violate the human rights of Venezuelan citizens and engage in acts of public corruption will not be welcome here, and we now have the tools to block their assets and their use of U.S. financial systems," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.

More News On President Obama Declaring Venezuela A Threat To U.S. National Security. Imposes Sanctions

Statement by the Press Secretary on Venezuela -- White House
FACT SHEET: Venezuela Executive Order -- White House
Obama sanctions 7 Venezuelan officials accused of human rights violations, corruption -- AP
Obama sanctions 7 government officials in Venezuela -- USA Today
Obama Imposes Sanctions On Venezuela, Invoking Emergency Powers -- NPR
U.S. Sanctions Venezuela Officials, Calls Country a Threat -- NBC
U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Venezuelan Officials Under New Order -- WSJ
Obama orders sanctions on Venezuelan officials -- Washington Times
Obama Orders Expansion of Sanctions on Venezuelan Officials -- Bloomberg
US Imposes Sanctions on Senior Venezuela Officials - White House -- Sputnik
U.S. to Freeze Assets of Seven Venezuelan Officials -- WSJ
No direct effects on Venezuela oil sector from new U.S. sanctions -U.S. official -- Reuters
Is Venezuela on the 'Short Road to Disaster'? -- Katy Barnato, NBC

Venezuela Accusses The U.S. Of Plotting A Coup. Cuts U.S. Embassy Staff And Restricts U.S. Travel

Daily Mail: Venezuela president claims to have captured U.S. pilot accused of 'recruiting citizens to stage a coup'

* 'Pilot' with 'Latino roots' detained in Táchira, border with Colombia, in the last few days, President Nicolas Maduro claims
* 5 other U.S. nationals and 4 missionaries have been detained recently
* All accused by Venezuelan government of 'espionage' and 'recruitment'
* Comes as tensions rise between the two nations, Maduro accused the U.S. of trying to overthrow him
* There has been a recent surge in anti-government protests in Caracas

More News On The Deteriorating Relations between The U.S. And Venezuela

Venezuela's Maduro claims his country has captured U.S. spies -- CBS/AP
Maduro Claims Venezuela Detained US Citizens for Espionage -- Sputnik
Venezuela: Arrested US Pilot Was Spying -- VOA
Detained American Missionaries Leave Venezuela -- NYT
Venezuela to Reduce U.S. Embassy Staff, Require Tourist Visas -- WSJ
Venezuela to limit the number of US diplomats -- Euronews
Venezuela Orders U.S. Embassy to Reduce Staff in Caracas -- Bloomberg
Venezuela to shrink US Embassy staff, require Americans to apply for tourist visas -- FOX News
Venezuela to limit staff at U.S. Embassy and require $160 visa for American tourists -- Fusion
Marco Rubio calls Venezuela ban a 'badge of honor,' LatAm country to limit U.S. diplomacy -- FOX News

Did Venezuela Threaten Aruba And The Netherlands To Release It's Former Intelligence Chief Wanted In The US For Drug Trafficking?

U.S. Official: Venezuela Threatened Aruba, Netherlands To Force Release Of Spy Chief -- FOX News

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – U.S. officials are saying Venezuela may have used threats to obtain the freedom of a former general detained in Aruba at the request of the American government.

In a statement released Monday morning, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki says there are credible reports that Venezuela threatened the governments of Aruba, the Netherlands and others to force the release of former military intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal.

Carvajal was arrested when he arrived to serve as Venezuela's consul on the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba. On Sunday, the Netherlands ruled that he was protected by diplomatic immunity.

Read more ....

More News On Aruba Releases Venezuela's Former Intellgience Chief Wanted In The US For Drug Trafficking

Aruba frees Venezuelan official Hugo Carvajal wanted by US -- BBC
Threats force Aruba to release Venezuela general -- NL Times
Venezuelan Officers Linked to Colombian Cocaine Traffickers -- NYT
Aruba Says Venezuela Raised Military Pressure on It -- WSJ
Ex-Spy Chief Gets Hero’s Welcome in Venezuela after Days in Aruba Jail -- Latin American Herald Tribune
US Unhappy Over Release Of Former Head of Venezuelan Intelligence Held On Drug Charges -- IBTimes

My Comment: For Venezuelan officials wanted in the U.S. .... I suspect that they are now going to be very careful on where they are travel.