Venezuela’s Maduro Abandons Talks as U.S. Escalates Pressure

(Bloomberg) -- Nicolas Maduro’s government announced on Wednesday night that it won’t attend a new round of talks with the Venezuelan opposition in Barbados on Thursday and Friday, in response to President Donald Trump’s new sanctions against the oil country.

Maduro decided not to send his delegation due to “serious and brutal aggression” carried out continuously by the Trump administration, including the illegal blockade of economic and financial activity, according to a statement published on Twitter by Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez.

“We decided not to attend, after evaluating the aggression of the imperialist government of Donald Trump, of the racist government of Donald Trump,” Maduro said by phone on state television. He didn’t clarify whether they’re only stepping out of the new round of talks or abandoning the entire process.

The decision comes as a surprise, especially considering several government officials, including Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza had confirmed Tuesday they would remain in the negotiations despite the sanctions.

“If Barbados doesn’t represent a winning scenario and pressure doesn’t let up, he’ll step away,” said Benigno Alarcon, director of political studies at Andres Bello Catholic University in Caracas. “The regime will be there as long as it serves them a purpose.”

Opposition lawmaker Stalin Gonzalez said on Twitter that representatives of Juan Guaido’s coalition were in Barbados to seek an agreement that would end Venezuelans’ suffering.

“We’re continuing to work at all tables in pursuit of an end to this crisis and to rescue our democracy through elections that are truly free,” Gonzalez said.

In the talks sponsored by the Norwegian government, Maduro and Guaido’s representatives intend to resolve a grinding crisis in Venezuela. Maduro, the nation’s autocratic ruler accused of stealing his last election, has resisted ceding control for eight months to Guaido, who heads a powerless legislature and is recognized as the country’s leader by the U.S. and more than 50 countries.

To contact the reporters on this story: Alex Vasquez in Caracas Office at avasquez45@bloomberg.net;Fabiola Zerpa in Caracas Office at fzerpa@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Patricia Laya at playa2@bloomberg.net, Dale Quinn

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