3 hours ago
Last Updated:December 17, 2025, 07:15 IST
The administration has moved thousands of troops and nearly a dozen warships - including an aircraft carrier - to the region in recent months.
US President Donald Trump and Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro.
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered a “blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas.
However, it is unclear how the Trump administration will impose the blockade against the sanctioned vessels, and whether he will turn to the Coast Guard to interdict vessels like he did last week.
In addition to this, the administration has moved thousands of troops and nearly a dozen warships – including an aircraft carrier – to the region in recent months.
“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," Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela."
There has been an effective embargo in place after the US seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week, with loaded vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil staying in Venezuelan waters rather than risk seizure.
Meanwhile, Maduro, speaking at an event on Tuesday evening before Trump’s post, said, “Imperialism and the fascist right want to colonize Venezuela to take over its wealth of oil, gas, gold, among other minerals. We have sworn absolutely to defend our homeland and in Venezuela, peace will triumph."
Escalated Tensions
Escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela, Trump’s campaign has included a ramped-up military presence in the region and more than two dozen military strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, which have killed at least 90 people.
Trump has also said that U.S. land strikes on the South American country will soon start.
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Location :
United States of America (USA)
First Published:
December 17, 2025, 07:15 IST
News world Trump Announces Total Blockade Of Sanctioned Oil Tankers Entering, Leaving Venezuela
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