Trump says he’s ordering blockade on oil tankers in and out of Venezuela
US President Donald Trump said he had ordered a “total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela.
In a post on Truth Social, he said the government of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro had been designated a foreign terrorist organization and accused it of “Terrorism, Drug Trafficking, and Human Trafficking,” as well as stealing U.S. assets.
“Therefore, today, I am ordering the COMPLETE AND COMPLETE BLOCKING OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS entering and exiting Venezuela,” he added.
Trump’s remarks came a week after the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Venezuela has yet to respond to Trump’s latest remarks.
Trump said in his post that Venezuela is “completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the history of South America.”
He added that it would “get bigger” and “unlike anything they’ve 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 U.S. military has killed at least 90 people in attacks on boats it claims are carrying fentanyl and other illegal drugs to the United States.
The USA has also sent warships to the region in recent months.
Venezuela, home to some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has also accused Washington of stealing its resources.
The United States, under both Trump and former President Joe Biden, has opposed Maduro’s government for years and pushed for his removal by imposing tough sanctions.
Last week, the United States imposed new sanctions on six ships it said were carrying Venezuelan oil.
Sanctions have also been imposed on some of President Maduro’s relatives and businesses affiliated with what the United States calls his illegitimate regime.
A day ago, the USA announced that a tanker was seized off the coast of Venezuela.
The White House said the seized ship, Skipper, was involved in “illegal oil transportation” and would be taken to an American port.
The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure, and Maduro said the US had “kidnapped the crew” and “stolen” the ship.
The United States had increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea on Venezuela’s northern border in the days before the raid.
It involved thousands of troops and the deployment of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, in close proximity to Venezuela.
