Deterioration in United States - Venezuela relations impact cruisers

by CSSN on 16 Mar 2015 Americans now need visa – USA declares national security emergency. As reported by the Caribbean Security and Safety Net.

If you are a US flagged vessel or carry a US passport and are planning to visit (even the offshore islands in an 'en transito' mode) you should obtain the latest information available and make an informed choice.

All US citizens now require a visa for entry into Venezuela, and these must be obtained prior to entry. Arrival at any port , or an encounter with any official without the appropriate visa could result in denial of entry, or possibly detention and seizure. While foreign Venezuelan consulates can provide instructions and may process visa applications, travel to Venezuela by US flagged yachts or carrying US citizens should be considered at this time to be HIGH RISK.

CSSN encourages all US citizens currently in Venezuela, and any with assets there (boats, homes, businesses) to pay very close attention to the developing situation there.

Historically, response to this type of action by the US has been swift, but often poorly or inappropriately targeted. Cruisers and their boats could become the target for any local official hoping to improve their own standing in the Maduro regime. If you are a US citizen currently in Venezuela, it would be prudent to have a plan in place to depart on short notice.

US Announces New Executive Order Sanctions on Venezuela — Declares 'National Emergency'

Monday 9 March 2015, United States President Obama issued a new Executive Order (E.O.) declaring a national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by the situation in Venezuela. Declaring any country a threat to national security is the first step in starting a U.S. sanctions program. The same process has been followed with countries such as Iran and Syria, U.S. officials said.

Links to full Reuters

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article13087994.html" MiamiHerald

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/03/09/fact-sheet-venezuela-executive-order" target="_blank">WhiteHouse

Venezuela Responds:

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela will respond shortly to new U.S moves to declare it a national security threat and sanction seven prominent officials, its foreign minister said on Monday. 'We will soon make public Venezuela’s response to these declarations,' Delcy Rodriguez told reporters, declining to give further details.

Links to full Reuters

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/09/venezuela-recalls-top-envoy-washington-us-sanctions" target="_blank">Guardian