Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela
Venezuelan government condemns blockade as ‘irrational’ after the US president demands it ‘return’ oil, land and assets to the US
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s government in a move that seemed designed to put a tighter chokehold on the South American country’s economy.
Trump’s escalation came after US forces last week seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, an unusual move that followed a build-up of military forces in the region.
In a post on social media on Tuesday night announcing the blockade, Trump alleged Venezuela was using oil to fund drug trafficking and other crimes and vowed to continue the military build-up until the country gave the US oil, land and assets, though it was not clear why he felt the US had a claim.
“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” Trump said in a post on his social media platform. “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.”
Pentagon officials referred all questions about the post to the White House.
Venezuela’s government released a statement on Tuesday accusing Trump of “violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation” with “a reckless and grave threat” against the South American country.