Washington: Tensions between the United States and Venezuela escalated sharply on Tuesday as US President Donald Trump ordered a complete blockade of all oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela. Announcing the move on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of using stolen oil assets to fund crime, terrorism, and human trafficking.
US Military Encirclement of Venezuela
Trump warned that Venezuela is now “completely surrounded by the largest naval fleet in South American history” and threatened to expand the military encirclement until Caracas returns all oil, land, and other assets taken from the United States. “This will be bigger than ever before and deliver a shock Venezuela has never seen,” Trump stated.
Accusations of Financing Terrorism
The US President further accused Maduro’s government of supporting foreign terrorist organizations and engaging in systemic criminal activities, including drug trafficking, kidnappings, human trafficking, and violent crimes. He alleged that oil stolen from Venezuelan fields is being used to finance terrorism and emphasized that the US will no longer tolerate such systematic theft and criminal operations.
Growing US-Venezuela Tensions
Under Trump’s directive, the US military will intercept sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela, though specific enforcement details and potential collaboration with allied nations remain unclear. Last week, the US seized a Venezuelan oil tanker near its coast, and the administration has recently conducted operations against suspicious drug vessels in the Caribbean. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles indicated in a recent interview that these actions also aim to pressure Maduro to step down.
The blockade and military maneuvers mark a significant escalation in the already strained relations between the United States and Venezuela, signaling a more aggressive stance by Washington toward Caracas.
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