The United States is pledging more than $171 million in funding to Venezuela at a donor conference in Brussels on Friday, a U.S. official told Reuters, as the country’s opposition awaits U.S. moves to release frozen Venezuelan government funds.
The pledge is expected at the EU’s support conference on solidarity with Venezuelan refugees and migrants.
The U.S. official did not provide details on the $376 million in funding that Washington pledged last year.
Washington supports Venezuela’s opposition, recognizes its parallel legislature and condemns the dictatorship of President Nicolás Maduro.
Under the administration of former President Donald Trump, the United States has increased economic sanctions against the South American country. It froze and seized Venezuelan government funds at the US Federal Reserve Bank of New York, then used the funds to support opposition lawmakers opposed to Maduro.
The country’s opposition has complained that ousted leader Juan Guaido is prolonging the US approval process needed to change the previous link to the fund delivery. They say the funds will also help with humanitarian efforts.
Maduro’s government opposes perceived U.S. foreign interference in its politics, and has said the opposition has stolen funds that belong to the people that could be used for social and medical aid.
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