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1 1 (December 11, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govbhxt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Researh Sevice The Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance and the Crisis in Venezuela Updated December 11, 2019 On September 11, 2019, the United States and 11 other Western Hemisphere countries invoked the Inter- American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (Rio Treaty) to facilitate a regional response to the crisis in Venezuela. As a first step, on September 23, 2019, the countries that have ratified the treaty (states parties) agreed to identify, prosecute, and freeze the assets of certain individuals and entities associated with the government of Nicoldis Maduro. On December 3, 2019, the states parties approved an initial list of 29 individuals alleged to have engaged in corruption and/or human rights abuses, who are subject to the September 23 sanctions and to entry and transit restrictions. The states parties agreed to meet again in the first quarter of 2020. Congress may track the ongoing deliberations, given their potential implications for U.S. policy. Background The Rio Treaty, which was signed in 1947 and entered into force in 1948, is a collective security pact among 19 of the 35 countries of the Western Hemisphere. The United States ratified the treaty in 1947 after the U.S. Senate provided its advice and consent. Article 3 of the treaty asserts than an armed attack by any State against an American State shall be considered as an attack against all American States, and it calls on each party to the treaty to assist in collective self-defense. Article 6 of the treaty, which was invoked in this case, empowers states parties to collectively respond to any other situation that might endanger the peace of the region. The treaty establishes a Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs as the principal forum through which states parties are to address collective security threats. Any treaty signatory may request such a meeting but must secure the votes of an absolute majority of parties to the treaty within the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS). On September 11, 2019, the United States and 11 other states parties, including the interim Venezuelan government of Juan Guaid6, supported a resolution calling a Meeting of Consultation to address the crisis in Venezuela. Article 8 of the treaty authorizes states parties to engage in a variety of collective measures, such as breaking diplomatic and consular relations, restricting economic relations, and using armed force. A Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov IN11116 CRS }NStGHT Prepaed for Membeivs and Cornm ittees o4 Corq ress ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------