Venezuelan vice president visits Russia for talks

ANKARA

Venezuela's vice president arrived Monday in Russia to strengthen relations between the oil-rich country and Moscow, according to Cuban state news agency.

Delcy Rodriguez will monitor agreements between the two countries in various areas, according to Prensa Latina.

The visit is part of Venezuela’s effort to strengthen ties with friendly nations interested in supporting its social and economic development, according to a press release from her office.

Rodriguez's visit came days after Washington’s blockade on Venezuela. U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order freezing all assets belonging to the Venezuelan government in a significant escalation of tensions with Caracas on Aug. 5.

Economy and Finance Minister Simon Zerpa, Deputy Minister for Europe Yvan Gil, Venezuelan Foreign Trade Minister Yomana Koteich and the Vice President of the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) Sohail Hernandez accompanied Rodriguez in her Russia visit.

Rodriguez plans to hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Aug. 21.

The Trump administration has been focusing on economic and diplomatic pressure against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, including imposing sanctions on him, his top officials and several governmental departments as it seeks to increase pressure on Caracas.

Venezuela's economy has been in precipitous decline following a global downturn in the price of crude oil, the country's main export, while political unrest since Jan. 10 also affects the country's financial stability.

Nearly 5,000 people leave Venezuela every day because of "instability and uncertainty" amid a crisis focused on the presidency and economy, and three million Venezuelans have already left the country since 2015, according to the UN's refugee agency.