Trump announces blockade of sanctioned tankers sailing to or from Venezuela

US President Donald Trump announced overnight that he had ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers sailing to or departing from Venezuela. According to the AP, the White House chief is increasing pressure on the South American country's authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro. Trump announced the blockade on his Truth Social platform after the United States seized an oil-carrying vessel off the Venezuelan coast last week. Caracas accused Trump of violating international law, free trade and freedom of navigation, the AP reported.

"For the theft of our assets and many other reasons, including terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking, the Venezuelan regime has been designated a foreign terrorist organization," the US president wrote on social media.

In the post, he accused Maduro's regime of using "stolen" oil to enrich itself and finance crimes such as human trafficking. "I am therefore ordering a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela today," he added.

Trump also wrote that Venezuela was "completely surrounded by the largest armada" in the history of South America. "It will only get bigger... until they return to the United States all of the oil, land and other assets that they previously stole from us," the US president wrote. He did not specify what oil or land he was referring to, but Venezuela nationalized its oil industry in the past, the AFP news agency noted.

In response to Trump's announcement, the Venezuelan government instead accused the US president of seeking to "steal the wealth" that belongs to Venezuela, according to the AP. "On his social media, he claims that Venezuelan oil, land and mineral wealth are his property," its statement said. "He demands that Venezuela immediately hand over all its wealth. The US president intends, in an entirely irrational manner, to impose a supposed naval blockade of Venezuela in order to steal the wealth that belongs to our nation," Caracas added.

Last week, the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the US had detained a tanker used to transport oil from Venezuela and Iran that was subject to US sanctions. Venezuelan President Maduro called Washington's move piracy. The Reuters news agency reported a few days ago that some tankers heading to Venezuela had changed course. Loaded ships were instead staying in Venezuelan waters, it said. Oil is the Venezuelan government's main source of income, according to Reuters.

The AP reported that it is not yet clear how the US plans to enforce the naval blockade. The US Navy has a number of vessels in the area, however, including an aircraft carrier.

The United States has recently increased its military presence in the region and stepped up pressure on Venezuela and its government. The US military has destroyed several vessels off the Venezuelan coast that Washington said were being used to transport drugs. US strikes have killed dozens of people whom the Pentagon described as narcoterrorists smuggling drugs into the US, but it has provided no evidence to support this claim and has faced criticism as a result. Trump has meanwhile said that the US military could launch operations against Venezuela.

US authorities have designated the Cartel of the Suns, which Washington says is led by Maduro, a terrorist organization. In November, Trump spoke by phone with the Venezuelan leader and, according to media reports, urged him to resign and leave the country. The Venezuelan government accuses the US of seeking regime change in Venezuela in order to seize the country's vast oil reserves.