President Donald Trump of the United States has declared that he is implementing “a total and complete” blockade of every sanctioned oil tanker entering and leaving Venezuela.
In a message posted on Truth Social, he indicated that Nicolás Maduro’s administration in Venezuela had been classified as a foreign terrorist entity and accused it of appropriating US assets, along with “Terrorism, Drug Trafficking, and Human Trafficking”.
“Hence, today, I am issuing A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS heading into, and out of, Venezuela,” he stated.
His comments followed the US’s seizure of an oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast a week prior. Venezuela’s government responded by rejecting Trump’s “grotesque threat”.
In his communication, Trump remarked that Venezuela was “entirely surrounded by the largest Naval Force ever gathered in the annals of South America”.
He stated that it will “only expand” and “be unlike anything they have encountered before”.
Trump further accused Maduro’s administration of utilizing pilfered oil to “sustain themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Homicide, and Abduction”.
The Trump administration has consistently alleged that Venezuela engages in drug trafficking, and since September, the US military has reportedly killed no fewer than 90 individuals in actions against vessels alleged to be transporting fentanyl and other prohibited substances to the US.
In recent months, the US has also deployed warships to the area.
Venezuela, which possesses some of the world’s largest confirmed oil reserves, has countered by accusing Washington of attempting to appropriate its resources.
For several years, both Trump and former President Joe Biden have opposed the Maduro administration and have sought his ouster through imposing harsh sanctions.
Last week, the US enacted new sanctions against six additional vessels it claimed were transporting Venezuelan oil.
Sanctions were also imposed on several relatives of President Maduro and on enterprises linked to what the US referred to as his illegitimate regime.
The day before, the US announced the seizure of a tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
According to the White House, the confiscated ship, named the Skipper, had participated in “illicit oil transportation” and would be brought to an American port.
Venezuela’s government condemned the seizure, with Maduro asserting that the US “abducted the crew” and “stole” the vessel.
Prior to the raid, the US had augmented its military presence in the Caribbean Sea, which lies to the north of Venezuela.
This deployment involved thousands of troops and the USS Gerald Ford – the largest aircraft carrier in the world – being stationed within striking range of Venezuela.
Congressman Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, commented that Trump’s “naval blockade is undoubtedly an act of war”.
He added that US lawmakers would, on Thursday, vote on a resolution “instructing the president to end hostilities with Venezuela”.
