President Obama Declares Venezuela “A Threat to National Security”

 On Monday, President Obama signed an executive order declaring Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials from the oil-rich country, reports Reuters.

Declaring any country a threat to national security is the first step in starting a U.S. sanctions program. The same process has been followed with countries such as Iran and Syria, U.S. officials said.

The sanctions effectively confirm Venezuela as the United States' primary adversary in Latin America, a label that was for decades applied to Communist-run Cuba until Washington and Havana announced a diplomatic breakthrough in December, according to Reuters.