China and Russia have voiced support for Venezuela as it faces a US blockade of sanctioned oil tankers, while Donald Trump intensifies pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.
As activity at Venezuelan ports slows, Trump again urged Maduro to leave office and said the US would keep or sell oil it has seized near Venezuela. Asked whether his aim was to remove Maduro, Trump said it would be “smart” for him to step down and warned that further defiance would end badly.
Since Trump announced the blockade last week, tanker loading has declined, with many ships stuck at port and millions of barrels of oil stranded as buyers demand steeper discounts for risky shipments. China’s foreign ministry condemned the interception of a China-bound tanker as a serious violation of international law after US forces seized a vessel off Venezuela’s coast.
The White House said the ship was part of Venezuela’s shadow fleet carrying sanctioned oil, though it was not itself under US sanctions, while Panama said the tanker violated maritime rules by altering its name and disabling its transponder. China said Venezuela has the right to maintain relations with other countries and reiterated its opposition to all unilateral and illegal sanctions.
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