Trump orders US military to blockade Venezuelan oil for two months

According to a source familiar with the matter speaking to the Reuters news agency, the Washington administration decided to increase economic pressure on Caracas through sanctions while stating that military options remain on the table.

“It is assessed that Venezuela will face an economic catastrophe by the end of January unless it makes significant concessions to the US,” the source stated.

Tankers seized

In mid-December, President Donald Trump declared a blockade on all oil tankers on the sanctions list traveling to or leaving Venezuela.

Trump threatened to increase military presence in the region until the Latin American country returns its “oil, lands, and other stolen assets.”

Following this announcement, the US military seized two oil tankers, the Skipper and the Centuries, off the coast of Venezuela.

The crew of a third vessel, named the Bella 1, blocked an American boarding attempt; however, the ship continues to be tracked. Trump stated that the oil obtained from the seized tankers would remain US property, remarking:

“Maybe we will sell this oil, or maybe we will use it in our strategic reserves. We are not letting go of the oil, and we are keeping the ships.”

Risk of direct contact rises

In response to these US moves, Venezuela has begun escorting oil tankers out of its ports with naval protection.

The New York Times highlighted that this development has increased the risk of a military conflict between the US and Venezuela.

Before declaring the oil blockade, Trump accused President Nicolas Maduro of smuggling drugs into the US and stealing oil from American companies.

During a brief telephone conversation in November, Trump gave Maduro one week to safely leave the country with his family. After the deadline expired, Trump closed Venezuelan airspace and claimed that the Maduro administration would soon come to an end.

Nicolas Maduro emphasized that Washington is seeking regime change in the country. Maduro vowed that they would not allow this and committed to defending Venezuela’s sovereignty and resources to the end.