During Trump’s first term, the US levelled “maximum pressure” sanctions on Venezuela while recognising opposition figure Juan Guaidó as the country’s legitimate president. That effort failed; Guaidó now lives in Florida.

María Corina Machado, the most prominent figure in the country’s opposition movement, argued the measures are needed to stop government repression.

The Trump administration formally revoked on Tuesday the license that allows oil giant Chevron Corp. to sell Venezuelan oil in the United States, giving the U.S. company only 30 days to wind down its operations in the South American country.