In a decisive move to intensify pressure on the Venezuelan government, President Donald Trump has declared a total blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers associated with the South American nation. This action, announced via the president's Truth Social platform, aims to cripple the financial mechanisms that, according to the Trump administration, support illicit activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, and terrorism.
The blockade follows a series of measures taken by the U.S. against the regime of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, whom President Trump has labeled as "illegitimate." The administration's strategy has been multifaceted, encompassing economic sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and direct military action against drug boats in international waters, which are believed to be part of the drug epidemic affecting the United States.
President Trump's statement on Truth Social was unambiguous: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
The Trump administration has accused the Maduro regime of using oil from stolen fields to finance a range of crimes, including murder and kidnapping. Consequently, the Venezuelan government has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, a label that carries significant legal and financial implications.
In addition to the blockade, Trump has highlighted the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to deport Venezuelan nationals who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration, which he described as "weak and inept." According to Trump, these individuals are being returned to Venezuela "at a rapid pace."
The State Department has also gotten involved, offering a substantial $50 million reward for the capture of Maduro, who has been implicated as a leader of the Cartel de los Soles, a notorious drug trafficking organization. The Treasury Department has designated the cartel as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity.
The U.S.'s refusal to recognize the outcome of Venezuela's July 28, 2024, presidential election, where Maduro claimed victory without providing substantial evidence, has further strained relations between the two countries. The U.S. maintains its stance of non-recognition of Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela.
