The U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump, has escalated its sanctions against the Venezuelan government by targeting associates of President Nicolás Maduro and their families. This latest move aims to undermine Maduro’s regime by curtailing the financial support it receives from key figures within the government.
Among those sanctioned are several immediate family members of Malpica Flores, the nephew of Maduro’s wife, who has been implicated in corruption and in providing financial assistance to the Venezuelan government. Notably, Eloisa Flores de Malpica, Maduro’s sister-in-law, is included in this group. The U.S. Department of the Treasury stated, “Today, Treasury sanctioned individuals who are propping up Nicolás Maduro’s rogue narco-state. We will not allow Venezuela to continue flooding our nation with deadly drugs.”
In a press release, the Treasury Department characterized Flores as “a person determined to be responsible for or complicit in, or to have directly or indirectly engaged in, any transaction or series of transactions involving deceptive practices or corruption.” This declaration underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to dismantling the networks that support Maduro’s administration.
The sanctions are part of a broader strategy to apply pressure on Caracas. Earlier in the month, the Treasury Department also sanctioned Venezuelan model, actress, and DJ Jimena Romina Araya Navarro. She was accused of maintaining a romantic relationship with the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, an organization linked to Maduro. Allegations suggest that a portion of her earnings from international nightclub performances was funneled to support the gang’s activities.
Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela have escalated significantly as Trump continues to assert that Maduro’s government is illegitimate. Recently, on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump claimed that Venezuela was “completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America.” He further warned that the pressure on Maduro would only increase and insisted that the Venezuelan government must “return to the United States of America all of its stolen assets.”
The sanctions signify a continuation of the Trump administration’s aggressive stance towards Venezuela, which has faced international scrutiny for its human rights record and economic mismanagement. By targeting Maduro’s inner circle, the U.S. aims to weaken the regime’s ability to govern and to diminish its support base.
As the situation unfolds, experts will be closely monitoring the impact of these sanctions on the Venezuelan economy and on Maduro’s ability to maintain power. The U.S. government has made it clear that it will persist in its efforts to hold accountable those involved in corruption and criminal activities associated with the Maduro administration.
