VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of subjecting the country to an “economic massacre,” with no signs of a change in direction under the new administration.

The Bolivarian leader told Bloomberg journalist Erik Schatzker that the economic sanctions that were increased by former US president Donald Trump as part of his “maximum pressure” strategy remain in place — and are a violation of human rights.

“We faced four years of aggressions and cruel sanctions by the Trump administration that caused damage to the Venezuelan economy,” Mr Maduro said, adding that more than 80 per cent of the Venezuelan people reject the measures.

He told the US-based journalist that Venezuela wanted to develop good relations with President Joe Biden and called on him to “stop demonising” the Bolivarian revolution and the country’s democratically elected government.

The US has sought the overthrow of Mr Maduro, supporting a number of failed coup attempts led by hapless opposition politician Juan Guaido. 

In 2020 Mr Maduro accused Mr Trump of being the mastermind behind Operation Gideon, an incursion into Venezuela headed by former US marines under a contract allegedly signed by Mr Guaido.

Intended to kidnap or kill the Venezuelan president and instal a compliant new Washington-friendly administration, it was thwarted by Venezuelan security forces and US citizens Luke Denman and Airan Berry are serving jail sentences in Venezuela after admitting involvement in the plot.

The US sanctions have been described as crimes against humanity by former UN special rapporteur Alfred de Zayas. Mr Maduro says they are responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 Venezuelan citizens in the past five years.

Venezuela has lodged a case at the International Criminal Court demanding those responsible be held to account.