The Latest: US sanctions Venezuela's development bank

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump's meeting with leaders from the Caribbean. (all times local):

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2:40 p.m.

The U.S. Treasury Department says it has sanctioned BANDES, Venezuela's national development bank, and four additional subsidiaries that BANDES owns or controls.

The department says the sanctions are in response to the illegal arrest of Roberto Marrero, chief of staff to opposition leader Juan Guaido. It's the latest salvo in the battle for power between in Venezuela between President Nicolas Maduro and Guaido.

Treasury made the announcement while the president was meeting Friday with leaders from five Caribbean nations.

The U.S. had already sanctioned scores of top Venezuelan officials and has blocked U.S. banks from doing business with Venezuela, putting a financial strangle-hold on the cash-strapped country.

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12:10 a.m.

The political and economic crisis in Venezuela tops the agenda of President Donald Trump's meeting Friday with leaders from the Caribbean, a region that has been far from united in joining the U.S. call for the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro.

Trump is hosting leaders of Jamaica, Bahamas, Haiti, Dominican Republic and St. Lucia at his affluent Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida to show his support for Caribbean countries that back democratic transition in Venezuela. The five have either denounced Maduro, or have joined more than 50 countries in recognizing Juan Guaido as the interim leader.

The crisis has put some Caribbean nations in a tough spot.

For years, Venezuela has provided then with a reliable supply of oil on low-credit terms, leaving them indebted to Caracas.