The United States has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to $25 million, shortly after he was sworn in for a third term.
The announcement was made by John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, and marks a significant escalation in efforts to hold Maduro accountable.
Key Details
- The U.S. also raised the reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuela’s Minister of Interior and Justice, Diosdado Cabello, to $25 million.
- Additionally, a new $15 million reward was announced for Defense Minister Vladimir Pedrino.
The U.S. administration has imposed economic sanctions on seven more Venezuelan officials, increasing the total number of sanctioned individuals to 187, alongside nearly 2,000 individuals under visa restrictions.
International Cooperation
Kirby emphasized that these actions align with similar measures taken by Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
“These actions demonstrate our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and further international efforts to pressure Maduro and his representatives,” Kirby stated during an online briefing.
Background
Maduro secured 51.2% of the votes in Venezuela’s July 2024 elections, according to the National Electoral Council. Opposition candidates Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina Machado rejected the results, accusing Maduro of electoral fraud.
The heightened rewards and sanctions reflect a coordinated international push to challenge Maduro’s regime and support democratic reform in Venezuela.
