The U.S. Government announced the sanctions several week ago, as a way to express the country's disapproval with the conduct of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was recently re-elected in an election that many inside the country and many observers from outside the country considered are questionable in conduct. In January 2019, opposition leader Juan Guaido invoked an obscure part of the constitution and declared himself as the party's rightful leader. The two political leaders have clashed publicly for the past few weeks.

The U.S. Government also announced that it would block assets of Venezuela's foreign minister, Jorge Arreaza, and that it certified Guaido's naming of his own board to head up the refining and gas station chain Citgo, which has been the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil.

China has been Venezuela's second-largest buyer of oil and still supports Maduro as leader, as does Russia. India had been the third-largest buyer of Venezuelan oil but has followed America's lead and found its oil elsewhere. Many economists estimate that oil sales account for more than 95 percent of Venezuela's export revenues.

Guaido, meanwhile, urged a large crowd in Caracas during the weekend to include a protest against Maduro in the country's annual May Day festivities, which usually include parades and speeches. Maduro has encouraged a similar show of support for his leadership.

The country has been suffering through a severe economic downturn for years, and refugees have fled in droves. In recent weeks, troubles with the electric grid have caused blackouts, one of which lasted nearly a week.

A recent large delivery of aid from the International Red Cross has provided some relief, but the number of people in need of food and medicine is very large. Maduro had blocked entry of an earlier shipment of food and medicine because it was provided and supported by the United States. Army troops had blocked the country's borders with Brazil and Colombia, refusing to welcome trucks filled with food and medicine, instead setting some trucks on fire. Most of the trucks left the area, their aid undelivered.