The U.S. designated “four companies for operating in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy” and “identified four vessels as blocked property”. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin indicated that “the illegitimate Maduro regime has enlisted the help of maritime companies and their vessels to continue the exploitation of Venezuela’s natural resources for the regime’s profit”. Relatedly, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged that “the U.S. will continue to increase pressure on Maduro and his enablers until a democratic transition begins”.