Trump orders total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela

Washington (EFE).- U.S. President Donald Trump ordered this Tuesday “the total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela”, in what represents a further step in Washington’s escalation of pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Trump asserted on his Truth Social account that Venezuela “is surrounded” by “the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America” and that the shock will be like never before until they “return all the oil, lands, and other assets they previously stole” from the United States. The Republican announced in this way the “total blockade” against oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in a significant escalation of the military operation that began in the international waters of the Caribbean, which supposedly had as its central objective to combat drug trafficking organizations operating in the region. In his message, the president added that “the illegitimate Maduro regime is using the oil from these stolen deposits to finance itself, narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping.” Following the presidential order, it is unclear how many oil tankers would be affected, nor what consequences this measure will have for the Venezuelan oil industry.

Seizure of the Skipper Ship

Last week, the United States Southern Command, which since August has attacked more than 30 boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific, changed its operations in international waters by seizing the tanker Skipper, which was transporting Venezuelan crude oil near the coast of the South American country and was intercepted by US forces in the Caribbean under a court order. The vessel, sanctioned by Washington since 2022 for its links to a “shadow fleet” of crude oil transport and accused of violating sanctions regulations, was moved to a United States port to initiate a legal process of confiscation of its cargo. The measure, considered a significant escalation in pressure against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has further strained relations between the two countries and contributed to a fall in Venezuelan crude shipments, while threatening further seizures of sanctioned tankers in nearby waters. The new escalation of the US military operation came amid an increase in military presence in the Caribbean and has been condemned by Caracas as “piracy”, while the White House defended the seizure of the first sanctioned tanker as part of its policy of sanctions and control of assets linked to illicit activities.