Current Leadership Crisis in Venezuela and Imposition of Sanctions

International Trade Law

To:
From:
Date: 20/04/2019
Subject: Current leadership crisis in Venezuela and the imposition of sanctions by the United
States.
International law applies to this situation
A relatively fresh concept of an international "responsibility to protect" (R2P) is identified by
international norms1. R2P applies to the situation of Venezuela. According to R2P, it is the
obligation of Venezuela towards their people to protect them from the risk of killing and
other mass atrocity crimes. It was used only once in Libya at the time of Arab Springs. The
citizen of Libya was being attacked by Muammar Qaddafi in Sirte and elsewhere for holding
power in his bid. In the case of Venezuela, the international identification of the presidency
of Juan Guaido is in more than fifty countries and these countries help to authenticate his
claims of legality. Any claim against the presidency of Guaido is considered to be an action
of the Maduro government. The military of Venezuela uses life fire upon those people who
do not support the government of Maduro and protest against him. The military of Venezuela
and the Maduro government are engaged in crimes against humanity. In this situation, R2P
play an important role in protecting the citizens of Venezuela from the harsh tactics of their
own government.
Action was taken
1 Fas, "Venezuela: Overview Of U.S. Sanctions", Fas.Org (Webpage, 2019)
<https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/IF10715.pdf>.

Latin American Countries made up a group called Lima Group. It was created in 2017 to find
a resolution for the meltdown economy of Venezuela. They recently approached to United
Nation for taking action to prevent an escalation on the humanitarian crisis of Venezuela.
Lima is a group of 14 countries and Canada is one of them. The Security General of United
Nation Antonio Guterres, the Security Council, and the General Assembly are exported by
Canada to take actions for avoiding the progressive decline of security and peace. It is also
added by Canada for providing urgent humanitarian aid to the migrants' population coming
from Venezuela2. A new sanction has been announced by Canada against forty-three
members of Maduro government which includes Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza. He has
been held responsible for the adverse situation occurred due to the crisis in South American
countries. The new sanctions allow freezing assets of individuals and restrict them in
conducting business with Canada that before authorized another seventy uppermost
government officials. For the first time, the patients of Venezuela have been supplied with
medicines and other necessary things from the Red Cross. It is said by the US secretary that
the US will continue to put pressure on Maduro and also be using all required political and
economic means for helping the people of Venezuela.
The function of states choosing to recognize (or not recognize) one leader or another
Countries are facing trouble in recognizing the leader of Venezuela. While Juan Guaido the
head of National Assembly of Venezuela has declared himself as the interim president of the
country, every other country of the world going through the choices3. They are confused
whether they should consider Guido as legally authorized to speak about Venezuela under
international law or continue with Maduro or say nothing on legal recognition. The president
2 Tony Jaques, "Crisis Leadership: A View From The Executive Suite" (2012) 12(4) Journal of
Public Affairs.
3 Associated Press Matthew Lee and Associated Press Matthew Lee, "U.S. Imposes Sanctions
On Venezuelan Officials For Blocking Aid", PBS Newshour (Webpage, 2019)
<https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/u-s-imposes-sanctions-on-venezuelan-officials-for-blocking-
aid>.