Trump says he will order blockade of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela

U.S. President Donald Trump said he ordered a “complete and total” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

In an article published in Truth Social, he said the government of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has been designated a foreign terrorist organization and accused of stealing U.S. assets as well as “terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking.”

“Therefore, today, I am ordering a complete and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela,” he added.

His comments came a week after the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The Venezuelan government said in a statement that it rejected Trump’s “bizarre threats.”

Trump said in the post that Venezuela is “completely surrounded by the largest Armada in the history of South America.”

He added that it was “only going to get bigger” and “like nothing they’ve seen before.”

Trump also accused Maduro’s government of using stolen oil to “fund itself, narco-terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping.”

The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of drug smuggling, and since September, the U.S. military has attacked ships allegedly transporting fentanyl and other illegal drugs to the United States, killing at least 90 people.

The United States has also sent warships to the region in recent months.

Venezuela has some of the world’s largest proven oil reserves and has accused Washington of trying to steal its resources.

The United States, under Trump and former President Joe Biden, has opposed Maduro’s government for years and pressed for his ouster through the imposition of tough sanctions.

Last week, the United States imposed new sanctions on six more ships allegedly carrying Venezuelan oil.

Some relatives of President Maduro and businesses linked to what the U.S. calls the illegitimate regime have also been sanctioned.

A day earlier, the United States said it had seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.

The White House said the seized ship “Captain” was involved in “illegal oil transportation” and would be taken to a U.S. port.

The Venezuelan government condemned the seizure, with Maduro saying the United States “kidnapped the crew” and “stole” the ship.

In the days leading up to the attack, the United States had stepped up its military presence in the Caribbean to the north, bordering Venezuela.

Thousands of troops and the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, are deployed within striking distance of Venezuela.