US President Donald Trump has announced a “total and complete” blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, escalating tensions between the two countries.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the move was in response to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro's government being designated a foreign terrorist organization.
He accused the administration of "stealing US assets, as well as Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking."
"Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela," Trump wrote.
The announcement comes a week after the US seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast. Venezuela has not yet responded to the latest directive. Trump added that Venezuela was "completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America" and claimed the force "will only get bigger" and "be like nothing they have ever seen before."
Trump accused Maduro’s government of using stolen oil to "finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping."
The US has long accused Venezuela of drug smuggling, and since September, military operations in the region have killed at least 90 people aboard boats alleged to be transporting fentanyl and other illegal drugs to the US.
In recent months, the US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying warships, including the USS Gerald Ford – the world’s largest aircraft carrier – within striking range of Venezuela.
Venezuela, which holds some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has repeatedly accused Washington of trying to steal its resources.
The US, under both Trump and former President Joe Biden, has imposed strict sanctions to pressure Maduro’s government, calling for its removal.
Last week, the US sanctioned six more ships alleged to be carrying Venezuelan oil, as well as some of Maduro’s relatives and companies tied to his administration. A day earlier, the US seized the tanker Skipper, accusing it of "illicit oil shipping." Venezuela condemned the seizure, with Maduro claiming the US "kidnapped the crew" and "stole" the vessel.
