This is one of the most common excuses by socialists for the failure of socialism in Venezuela. That the economy wasn’t brought down by the socialist policies but by US sanctions on trade.
Of course for this to be true you would have to believe in time traveling sanctions. Venezuela’s economy had already crashed by the time US passed any sanctions. It is also interesting to note the socialists are objecting to sanctions by the US, which are limitations on trade. While praising the socialist policies of Venezuala which are also just limitations on trade for Venezuala’s citizens.
