Boise City Wire

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and a group of colleagues have sent a letter to President Biden, urging the administration not to renew oil sanctions relief for Venezuela's dictatorship led by Nicolas Maduro. The senators emphasized the importance of taking a strong stance against the regime.

In the letter, the senators stated, "We write to urge you to not renew General License 44 'Authorizing Transactions Related to Oil or Gas Sector Operations in Venezuela' when it comes up for renewal on April 18th." They highlighted the regime's failure to uphold promises made in the Barbados Agreement, which aimed to pave the way for fair presidential elections in July 2024.

The group of senators, including Jim Risch, underlined the ineffectiveness of appeasing dictators, stating, "History has proven time and time again that appeasing dictators does not work. We strongly urge you to reinstate and fully enforce all U.S. sanctions on the Maduro regime relieved as a result of the October 2023 Barbados Agreement." They also expressed concerns about the implications of not ensuring free and fair elections in Venezuela, warning that it could embolden authoritarian aggressors like China, Iran, and Russia.

The senators' letter to President Biden comes as the administration faces a decision on whether to reimpose sanctions relieved in October 2023. The full text of the letter can be accessed for further details.

The concerns raised by Senator Risch and his colleagues underscore the ongoing debate over U.S. policy towards Venezuela and the need for a firm approach towards the Maduro regime. The letter was initially reported by Fox News Digital, bringing attention to the senators' call for action.