Translated with AI
US President Donald Trump ordered a naval blockade of sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from Venezuela. He announced this on Tuesday, December 16, on his social media account, Truth Social, noting that "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest armada in the history of South America."
Trump said the blockade was motivated by "asset theft, terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking" by the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolás Maduro, whose activities Washington has designated as a terrorist organization.
"The illegitimate Maduro regime uses oil from these stolen fields to fund its activities, narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping," the White House chief said. He also emphasized that the US will increase its naval presence around Venezuela until the country returns "oil, land, and other stolen assets."
The conflict between Washington and Caracas escalated last week after U.S. military personnel seized a Venezuelan oil tanker off the country's coast. Following the incident, buyers of Venezuelan oil, including Chinese refineries, began pressing Venezuela's state-owned oil and gas company, PDVSA, to increase discounts and revise contract terms, Reuters reported, citing traders and informed sources.
American military ships and aircraft are already in the Caribbean Sea to ensure control of the situation and implement the President's instructions.
