Trump Orders Complete Blockade of Oil Tankers from Venezuela

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a complete blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan ports.

Trump announced the decision on his social media platform, Truth Social.

He also stated that the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been designated a foreign terrorist organization.

In addition, Trump accused Venezuela of stealing U.S. assets, including oil and land.

“The illegitimate Maduro regime uses oil from these stolen oil fields to finance its own survival, narco-terrorism, human trafficking, murders, and kidnappings,” the U.S. President wrote.

In his post, Trump emphasized that Venezuela is completely surrounded by “the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America.”

“It will only continue to grow, and the shock for them will be unmatched – until they return to the United States of America all the oil, land, and other assets they previously stole from us,” the U.S. President said.

He noted that he had ordered the implementation of a full and total blockade of all sanctioned “oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.”

Last week, media reports said the United States was preparing to intercept an increasing number of vessels carrying Venezuelan oil that are subject to Washington’s sanctions.

On December 10, U.S. forces stationed in the Caribbean Sea took full control of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.

The tanker departed from Venezuela’s main oil port of José between December 4 and 5 after loading about 1.8 million barrels of Merey heavy crude oil. To seize the tanker, the United States deployed special forces and a military helicopter.

It was later revealed that the tanker Skipper, seized by U.S. forces, belonged to Iran’s “shadow fleet.”