Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tankers
Trump orders a total blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers, escalating tensions as the US targets Maduro’s regime amid rising military pressure.
US President Donald Trump has said he is ordering a "complete blockade" of all restricted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
In a post on Truth Social, he said that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro's government has been designated a foreign terrorist organization and accused it of stealing US assets, as well as engaging in "terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking."
He further stated, "Therefore, today, I am ordering a complete blockade of all restricted oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela."
His comments come a week after the US seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. In a statement, the Venezuelan government said it rejected Trump's "outrageous threat."
In his post, Trump said that Venezuela is "completely surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America."
He added that it "will get even bigger" and "will be like nothing they have ever seen before."
Trump also accused Maduro's government of using stolen oil to finance "themselves, drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping."
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of drug trafficking, and since September, the US military has killed at least 90 people in attacks on boats allegedly carrying fentanyl and other illegal drugs to the US.
In recent months, the US has also deployed warships to the region.
Venezuela—which is home to some of the world's largest proven oil reserves—has, in turn, accused Washington of trying to steal its resources.
Under both Trump and former President Joe Biden, the US has opposed the Maduro government for years and pressured it to step down through harsh sanctions. Last week, the US imposed new sanctions on six more ships, which it said were carrying Venezuelan oil.
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Sanctions were also imposed on some relatives of President Maduro and businesses that the US described as supporting his illegitimate government.
A day earlier, the US said it had seized a tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
The White House said the seized vessel, named the Skipper, was involved in "illicit oil shipping" and would be taken to a US port.
The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure, with Maduro saying the US had "kidnapped the crew" and "stolen" the ship. A few days before the seizure, the US had increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela.
This included deploying thousands of troops and the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, within striking distance of Venezuela.
Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro, who represents Texas, said Trump's "naval blockade is without a doubt an act of war."
He added that US lawmakers would vote on a resolution on Thursday that would "direct the president to cease hostilities with Venezuela."
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