Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a third consecutive term on Friday amid mounting international pressure, with the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom announcing new sanctions on his government.
The U.S., EU, and several neighboring countries have recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González as the president-elect, accusing Maduro of election fraud following last year’s controversial July election. The disputed vote sparked large-scale protests, leading to thousands of arrests.
Despite beginning another six-year term, Maduro faces growing isolation on the international stage. On Friday, the Biden administration not only imposed financial sanctions on eight officials from Maduro’s government but also raised the reward for information leading to his arrest from $15 million to $25 million.
Maduro, who was charged with narco-terrorism in 2020 by U.S. prosecutors, is accused of supporting a Colombian terrorist group and facilitating cocaine shipments to the United States. He has denied the charges, dismissing them as part of a violent campaign to remove him from power.