Venezuelan Ambassador Says US Oil-Related Sanctions Unlikely To Affect Ties With Moscow

The US sanctions against Venezuela in the oil field, if imposed, will not affect the country's cooperation with Russia, Venezuelan Ambassador to Russia Carlos Rafael Faria Tortosa told Sputnik in an interview released on Monday.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th September, 2018) The US sanctions against Venezuela in the oil field, if imposed, will not affect the country's cooperation with Russia, Venezuelan Ambassador to Russia Carlos Rafael Faria Tortosa told Sputnik in an interview released on Monday.

Earlier in the week, Washington pledged to take several steps to increase its pressure on the Venezuelan government. The United States has stated on numerous occasions that it does not rule out the imposition of new sanctions against the country, in particular, in the oil industry.

"We believe that no [influence on Caracas-Moscow relations will take place].

We think that our policy of cooperation between the two countries is very independent and immune to any US sanctions ... We, in particular, seek to continue this cooperation with Russia, our friend and ally, in the oil field," the ambassador stressed.

He also expressed hope that the work of the Russia-Venezuela high-level intergovernmental commission would enhance the existing cooperation between the two countries.

The United States has long been opposing policies of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and has introduced numerous sanctions against Caracas to counter them.