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The Biden Administration set a November 30, 2023 deadline for Venezuela’s criminal Maduro narco-regime to release U.S. hostages and enable opposition leader María Corina Machado, who had a landslide victory in October’s primary elections, to run against Maduro in the general election. The Venezuelan dictatorship responded to the U.S. government’s deadline with no action on hostages and performative steps on elections.

During a Senate Committee on Appropriations hearing, Secretary Blinken affirmed that the Biden Administration would “take necessary action” if the ban against Venezuela’s opposition leader remained.

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released a statement urging the Biden Administration to reinstate sanctions against Maduro.

• “Maduro lied to the Biden Administration. It is time for President Biden to reverse his failed strategy and reimpose sectoral sanctions against the criminal Maduro narco-regime until there is real movement by Maduro to release U.S. citizens and hold truly free and fair elections. Concessions to the Venezuelan dictator have only emboldened him and his thugs.
  
• “The U.S. must advance a policy that supports free, fair, multiparty, and democratic elections in Venezuela. The Venezuelan people made their voices heard during the opposition’s primary elections. As such, María Corina Machado must be permitted to run for the presidency without any restrictions. Our nation must remain firm on the importance of the immediate and unconditional release of all U.S. hostages, political prisoners, and prisoners of conscience.”

Want more information?

• November 2023: ICYMI: the Biden Admin Must Stop Imposing Its Naive Policies on Venezuela
• October 2023: Rubio, Kaine On Venezuela’s Opposition Primary Elections