US President Donald Trump has ordered what he called a “total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, a move condemned by Caracas as warmongering.
Trump claimed that President Nicolás Maduro’s government had been designated a foreign terrorist organisation involved in drug smuggling and human trafficking, remarks that followed the US seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker last week.
The action is significant because Venezuela’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, even as the US has increased deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats and expanded its naval presence in the region.
Trump provided few details on how the blockade would be enforced, but said Venezuela was surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in South American history. As of last week, more than 30 ships linked to Venezuela were under US sanctions, with additional penalties imposed on vessels, businesses, and some of Maduro’s relatives.
Washington has accused the Venezuelan government of using stolen oil to finance crime and terrorism, though it has offered no public evidence that seized or destroyed vessels were carrying drugs. Venezuela has rejected the accusations, saying the US is trying to steal its oil resources and calling the tanker seizure an act of piracy. Critics, including some US lawmakers and the UN human rights chief, have warned that the blockade risks war and comes amid an intensifying crackdown on freedoms under Maduro’s disputed rule.
An oil tanker intercepted by the US last week shortly after leavibf a Venezuelan port
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