New Venezuela sanctions possible at any time: EU

By Yusuf Hatip

BRUSSELS (AA) - The EU's foreign policy chief on Monday warned that new sanctions on Venezuela could be imposed at any time.

“A possible decision will be made any time by EU to impose new sanctions on Venezuela,” Federica Mogherini told a press conference after a session of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Belgium.

The statement came after Venezuela blocked six members of the European Parliament from entering the country to visit Juan Guaido, the country’s self-declared interim president.

“We regret that Venezuela did not allow the MEPs through,” she said.

On possible new sanctions on Russia, the foreign policy chief said the ministers have reached a consensus and the discussion will soon come to a conclusion.

Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10 when President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition.

Tensions rose when opposition leader Guaido declared himself acting president on Jan. 23, a move which was supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries.

Russia, China, Iran, Bolivia and Mexico have put their weight behind Maduro, as has Turkey.