U.S. President Donald Trump ordered on Tuesday “the total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela”, in a further step in Washington’s escalation of pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump assured on his Truth Social account that Venezuela “is surrounded” by “the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America” and that the commotion will be like never before until “they return all the oil, land and other assets they previously stole” from the United States.
Trump blocks Venezuelan oil tankers
The Republican thus announced the “total blockade” against oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in a significant escalation of the military operation he initiated in the international waters of the Caribbean, which was supposedly aimed at combating drug trafficking organizations operating in the region.
In his message, the president added that “Maduro’s illegitimate regime is using the oil from these stolen oilfields to finance itself, narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping”.
Following the presidential order, it is not clear how many oil tankers would be affected or what consequences such measure will have for the Venezuelan oil industry.
Last week, the U.S. Southern Command, which since August has attacked more than 30 boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific, took a turn in its operations in international waters by seizing the oil tanker Skipper, which was carrying Venezuelan crude oil off the coast of the South American country and was intercepted by U.S. forces in the Caribbean under a court order.
The vessel, sanctioned by Washington since 2022 for its links to a “shadow fleet” transporting crude oil and accused of violating sanctions rules, was moved to a U.S. port to begin legal proceedings to seize its cargo.
The move, seen as a significant escalation in pressure against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has further strained relations between the two countries and contributed to a drop in Venezuelan crude oil shipments, while threatening further seizures of sanctioned tankers in nearby waters.
The new escalation of the U.S. military operation came amid an increased military presence in the Caribbean and has been condemned by Caracas as “piracy”, while the White House defended the seizure of the first sanctioned tanker as part of its policy of sanctions and control of assets linked to illicit activities.
Filed under: Trump blocks Venezuelan oil tankers
With information from EFE
