US hits 'corrupt' Venezuela oil firm PDVSA with sanctions

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Media captionDesperate Venezuelan women are selling their hair at the border

The US has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil firm PDVSA and urged the country's military to accept a peaceful transfer of power.

National Security Adviser John Bolton said President Nicolás Maduro and his allies could “no longer loot the assets of the Venezuelan people”.

Efforts by the opposition to unseat Mr Maduro have increased in recent days.

The US and more than 20 countries have recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the proceeds of the purchase of Venezuelan oil would now be withheld from Mr Maduro's government, but the company could avoid sanctions by recognising Mr Guaidó.

Venezuela is heavily reliant on the US for its oil revenue - sending 41% of its oil exports there - while it remains in the top four crude oil suppliers to the US.

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In other developments:

• Mr Guaidó says he is ordering Venezuela's Congress to name new heads of the PDVSA and Citgo, as he aims to take control of the country's asset

• The government has devalued its currency, the bolivar, by almost 35% to align it with the black market exchange rate

What is the US calling for？

Mr Bolton and Mr Mnuchin said the sanctions were intended to prevent Mr Maduro's government from taking funds from the state oil company.

“We have continued to expose the corruption of Maduro and his cronies and today's action ensures they can no longer loot the assets of the Venezuelan people,” Mr Bolton said.

Image copyrightEPAImage caption Mr Maduro is accused of human rights abuses and rigging electio

The US action blocks all PDVSA property and interests subject to US jurisdiction, and prohibits US citizens from engaging in transactions with them.

But Mr Mnuchin said US-based subsidiary Citgo could continue operations if its earnings were deposited in a blocked account in the US.

Mr Bolton also urged Venezuela's military to “accept the peaceful, democratic and constitutional transfer of power”.

Asked whether US President Donald Trump was considering military involvement in Venezuela, Mr Bolton said: The president has made it clear that all options are on the table."

Meanwhile one observer spotted a handwritten message on the national security adviser's notepad, which he suggested might be a serious infringement of operational security.

It was not clear what the message “5,000 troops to Colombia” means.

Skip Twitter post by @RaoKomar747

So this notepad that National Security Advisor John Bolton was holding today at the White House briefing on Venezuela says:

Afghanistan -> Welcome the Talks. 5,000 troops to Colombia."

If confirmed this would be a pretty terrible OPSEC breach.https://t.co/KS0Issfvps pic.twitter.com/IOrSprG567

— Rao Komar (@RaoKomar747) January 28, 2019

Report

End of Twitter post by @RaoKomar747

Who supports whom？

Russia, China, Mexico and Turkey have publicly backed Mr Maduro.

At a UN Security Council meeting on Saturday, Russia accused Washington of plotting a coup.

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Media captionWho's really in charge in Venezuela？ The BBC's Paul Adams explai

However, more than a dozen Latin American countries and Canada have backed Mr Guaidó as president.

And on Saturday, several European countries including Spain, Germany, France and the UK said they would recognise Mr Guaidó as president if elections were not called within eight days.

Why is Maduro so unpopular？

Venezuela is in economic crisis - hyperinflation and shortages of basic essentials have hit its population hard and caused millions to flee.

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Media captionThousands more leave Venezuela amid new crisi

Mr Maduro has faced internal opposition and ongoing international criticism for his human rights record and handling of the economy.

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He was re-elected to a second term last year - but the elections were controversial, with many opposition candidates barred from running or jailed.

Supreme Court judge Christian Zerpa fled to the US in January, telling journalists the election “was not free and competitive”.

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