The EU decides not to sanction Venezuela and awaits a response from Maduro's regime.

The European Union has decided not to impose new sanctions on Venezuela, despite the serious political and human rights situation in the South American country. In an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the Twenty-Seven, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, argued that there are already sanctions in place against 55 political figures of the regime, including key figures like Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. This decision reflects a more cautious strategy, where European countries choose to observe how events unfold in Venezuela before taking new measures. Borrell emphasized that, since only a couple of leaders from the regime remain who have not been sanctioned, new personal sanctions could mean a direct attack on the highest officials of the current government. The situation in the Caribbean country is tense. Recently, protests and demonstrations have highlighted the popular discontent regarding the multifaceted crisis affecting Venezuela. EU member states have decided to wait and see how the Venezuelan government responds to these demonstrations before making any decisions about future sanctions. In another key point of the meeting, Borrell reiterated the EU's position regarding Nicolás Maduro's government, stating that it does not recognize his "democratic legitimacy" as an elected president. The lack of presentation of electoral records after the last elections was a key factor in this determination. "We have asked for the records time and again, but a month later, there is no hope that Maduro will present them," Borrell warned. This situation leaves Maduro as a de facto president, whose legitimacy is questioned by the international community. The European high representative also stressed that the non-acceptance of Maduro's legitimacy as an elected president has diplomatic implications. "We do not consider him a democratically elected president," he stated, adding that, although Maduro's government is not recognized, the EU maintains diplomatic relations with the State of Venezuela. This stance reflects a pragmatic approach by the EU, which seeks to maintain dialogue and establish relations despite political differences. However, the human rights situation in the country is alarming. Borrell highlighted that since the elections, more than 1,500 people have been arrested, which underscores the systematic repression by Maduro's regime. The EU is committed to focusing its efforts on defending human rights in Venezuela and has expressed support for initiatives from neighboring countries like Brazil and Colombia that seek to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. Despite the refusal to recognize the victory of opposition leader Edmundo González, who participated remotely in the meeting, the EU seems open to considering the complexity of the political situation in Venezuela. The lack of recognition of the elections and the repression of the opposition have only exacerbated the suffering of the Venezuelan population, which continues to await answers and solutions to its problems. The international community is closely watching the next steps that the Venezuelan government will take in response to the growing internal demand for change. Meanwhile, the EU remains firm in its stance but is also willing to assess how it can contribute to a dialogue process that leads to a lasting solution to the crisis in Venezuela. In this context, pressure on Maduro's regime could intensify, not only from the European sphere but also from within Venezuela, where the opposition seeks to regain ground and promote mobilization that demands real and significant changes in governance and human rights conditions. Finally, the EU's decision not to impose new sanctions at this moment reflects a calculated strategy that aims to balance pressure on the regime with the need to keep communication channels open. The situation is delicate, and the future of Venezuela will largely depend on how events unfold in the coming weeks and months.