US sanctions ships & companies transporting Venezuelan oil to Cuba

Tripling down on the policy of regime change in Caracas, the US on Friday imposed sanctions against 35 ships and two companies which it says are involved in transporting oil from Venezuela to Cuba. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin accused Cuba of “providing a lifeline” to the “illegitimate… regime” of President Nicolas Maduro through “oil-for-repression schemes.” Washington recognized the self-proclaimed opposition leader Juan Guaido as “interim president” of Venezuela at the end of January, but efforts to install him in power have stalled as the police, military and much of Venezuela’s population remained loyal to elected authorities.