Trump orders blockade of sanctioned venezuelan oil tankers
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- Trump orders blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers, targeting Maduro’s government.
- Venezuela calls it illegal; oil prices rise on supply concerns.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in a dramatic escalation of pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government and its critical oil-dependent economy.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump said the Venezuelan regime had been designated a foreign terrorist organization, accusing it of terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. He declared the blockade on tankers on the U.S. sanctions list and demanded Caracas return U.S. assets he claims were unlawfully taken.
The U.S. military has already seized one sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast and deployed thousands of troops and warships to the region in recent weeks, moves Trump says are part of a broader strategy to counter illicit activity and weaken Maduro’s grip on power.
The Venezuelan government condemned the blockade as a violation of international law and a threat to free navigation, vowing to raise the issue at the United Nations. Critics in the U.S. and abroad have questioned the legality of the blockade without clear congressional authorization, noting it could amount to an act of war.
The announcement reverberated in energy markets, with oil prices rising more than 1% amid concerns about disruptions to Venezuela’s crude exports, even as analysts note the country’s output has already been sharply curtailed by sanctions and logistical challenges.
The practical implementation of the blockade remains unclear, including which agencies will enforce it and how far it might extend beyond sanctioned vessels. The situation adds to mounting tensions in the Caribbean and Latin America, with potential implications for global oil markets and regional stability.
