US eyes sanctions on Cuban officials aiding crackdown in Venezuela: report

The Trump administration is weighing whether to impose sanctions on military and intelligence officials in Cuba who are accused of aiding Venezuela’s government in repressing opposition groups in the country, Reuters reported Wednesday.

It would be the latest move the Trump administration has taken against Venezuela, which the administration is also reportedly preparing to designate as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Imposing sanctions on Cuban officials would be the first time Washington has sanctioned foreign officials that it believes are allies with Venezuela, according to Reuters. Venezuela and Cuba are close allies. 

{mosads}Reuters reported that the sanctions would specifically go after officials who the Trump administration says are helping the Venezuelan government monitor opposition groups and repress protesters. 

But no final decision has been made on whether to move forward with the sanctions, and it’s unclear how many people would be penalized, according to Reuters.

The Washington Post reported earlier this week that the Trump administration is likely to add Venezuela to the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror. Doing so would limit assistance the U.S. provides to the country and prohibit financial transactions between the two nations, the Post reported.

The Trump administration earlier this year also placed sanctions on several people close to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, including his wife and vice president. And in May, following the reelection of Maduro, Trump issued an executive order that prevents people from making certain financial transactions with Venezuela.