Trump initiates full naval blockade and oil embargo against Venezuela

The US President Donald Trump has announced a “full and complete” blockade of all sanctioned tankers involved in oil trade with Venezuela.

Trump declared that he has dispatched the largest naval fleet ever assembled in South American history to the coast of the Latin American country.

Trump stated that this fleet will continue to grow until Venezuelan authorities return the oil, land, and other assets they allegedly previously seized to the US.

Naval deployment expands

In a statement on his social media platform, TruthSocial, Trump targeted the Nicolas Maduro administration, writing, “The illegitimate regime of Nicolas Maduro uses the oil from these stolen oilfields to finance its activities, such as narco-terrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping.”

Recalling his administration’s designation of the regime as a “foreign terrorist organization,” Trump outlined the reasons for the military mobilization in the region. For several months, the US has been increasing its military presence in the Caribbean Sea as part of its counter-narcotics efforts, conducting operations against Venezuelan vessels.

As of the middle of last month, 15,000 US troops are stationed in the region. Trump had previously announced the closure of Venezuelan airspace and stated that a ground operation would be launched against drug cartel targets in the country.

Skipper tanker seized

On December 10, the US administration announced the seizure of the oil tanker “Skipper” off the coast of Venezuela. The New York Times reported that the vessel had transported approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil from Iran to China between February and July.

The Washington Post added that the US has prepared a list of other vessels that could potentially be seized and is monitoring their movements to increase pressure on Maduro.

Venezuelan authorities described the tanker’s seizure as “a grave act of robbery and international piracy.” The Caracas government stated that the incident reveals the true intentions of Washington’s policy, issuing the following statement:

“This is not about migration, drug trafficking, or human rights; it is about the desire to seize Venezuela’s natural resources, its oil, and its energy.”

Evacuation negotiations fail

While Trump emphasized that the Venezuelan President’s rule would soon end, details of back-channel negotiations have also been leaked to the press.

Reuters reported that during talks last month, the US President gave Maduro one week to leave the country safely with his family.

In response, Maduro conveyed to Trump his willingness to leave the country but stipulated that certain conditions must be met. The Venezuelan leader demanded a full legal amnesty for himself and his family, the lifting of US sanctions, and the dismissal of the case at the International Criminal Court.

He also requested an end to the sanctions imposed on more than 100 Venezuelan officials and the establishment of a transitional government led by the current Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez. Trump rejected these demands.