The president of the USA, Donald Trumpordered this Tuesday “the total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela“, in what represents another step in the escalation of pressure from Washington on the Government of the Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro.
Trump assured in his Truth Social account that Venezuela “is surrounded” by “the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America” and that the commotion will be like never before until “return all the oil, land and other assets they previously stole” to the United States.
The Republican announced in this way the “total lock” against oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in a significant escalation of the military operation that began in the international waters of the Caribbean that supposedly had as its central objective to combat drug trafficking organizations that operate in the region.
In his message, the president added that “the illegitimate Maduro regime is using the oil from these stolen fields to finance narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping.”
Uncertainty for oil industry due to blockade ordered by Trump
Following the presidential order, it is not clear how many oil tankers would be affected or what consequences this measure will have for the Venezuelan oil industry.
Last week, the United States Southern Commandwhich since August has More than 30 boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking attacked in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific, took a turn in its operations in international waters by seizing the oil 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 ship, sanctioned by Washington since 2022 for its links with a “shadow fleet” transporting crude oil and accused of violating sanctions regulations, was transferred to a United States port to begin a legal process to confiscate its cargo.
The measure, considered a significant escalation in pressure against Venezuelan President Nicolás Madurohas further strained relations between both countries and contributed to a drop in shipments of Venezuelan crude oil, while threatening new seizures of sanctioned oil tankers in nearby waters.
The new escalation of the US military operation came in the middle of a increased military presence in the Caribbean and has been condemned by Caracas as “piracy”while the White House defended the seizure of the first sanctioned oil tanker as part of its policy of sanctions and control of assets linked to illicit activities.
