Caracas expels EU ambassador over expanded sanctions

Venezuela ordered the expulsion of the EU ambassador after Brussels expanded a list of Venezuelan officials subject to targeted sanctions.

Foreign minister Jorge Arreaza said today ambassador Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa has 72 hours to leave the country. The government previously ordered her expulsion in June 2020 after the EU's last additions to the sanctions list.

The EU added 19 Venezuelan officials to its targeted list this week, bringing the full roster of officials subject to asset freezes and travel bans to 55.

Among the newly targeted officials are the governor of oil-producing Zulia state Oman Prieto and top military commander Remigio Ceballos.

By Patricia Garip