US Announces Full Naval Blockade on Venezuelan Oil Tankers

US President Donald Trump has announced what he described as a full and comprehensive blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, sharply escalating pressure on the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Venezuelan government has been designated a foreign terrorist organization, accusing it of stealing US assets and engaging in terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.

Trump said he had therefore ordered a complete blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers operating in and out of Venezuela. His announcement came one week after the United States detained an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

The Venezuelan government responded by condemning the move as irrational and a dangerous threat. In an official statement, Caracas said the US president was attempting to impose a so-called naval military blockade in an irrational manner with the aim of seizing wealth that belongs to the Venezuelan nation.

Trump claimed that Venezuela is now fully surrounded by what he called the largest naval force ever assembled in the history of South America, adding that the fleet would continue to expand and would be unlike anything seen before in the region.

He also accused the Maduro government of using stolen oil revenues to finance criminal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, killings, and kidnappings.

The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of drug smuggling, allegations that Venezuelan authorities deny. Since September, the US military has reported killing at least 90 people in strikes on boats it claimed were transporting fentanyl and other illicit drugs toward the United States.

In the days leading up to the operation, Washington significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea, which borders Venezuela to the north. The deployment included thousands of troops and the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, positioned within range of potential strikes on Venezuelan territory.