Translated with AI
The US administration has ordered that American military forces be almost entirely focused on ensuring the so-called "quarantine" of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months. Reuters reported this on December 25, citing a US official.
According to him, Washington intends to exert pressure on Caracas primarily through economic measures. "While military options remain, the primary focus is on economic pressure through sanctions to achieve the outcome the White House is hoping for," the agency's source stated.
He noted that previous actions by the US government had a significant impact on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Washington estimates that the country could face economic catastrophe by the end of January unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the United States.
The White House spokesperson did not specify what exactly was meant by the "almost complete" focus on "quarantining" Venezuelan oil. As Reuters points out, the term "quarantine" was previously used during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. In 2022, Robert McNamara, then US Secretary of Defense, explained the use of this term as a desire to avoid escalation, noting that "blockade is the word of war."
At the same time, the agency emphasizes, the Pentagon has deployed more than 15,000 troops to the Caribbean, along with a significant amount of military equipment, including an aircraft carrier, 11 other warships, and more than 10 F-35 fighter jets. The Wall Street Journal also previously reported on the deployment of American troops to the shores of Venezuela.
The conflict between the United States and Venezuela escalated after the nationalization of all the country's oil fields in the early 2000s, which affected the interests of foreign companies, including American ones, and led to disputes over compensation. A new round of confrontation occurred during Donald Trump's second presidency.
In mid-December, he announced a blockade of sanctioned tankers off the coast of Venezuela and called on the country to "immediately" return to the United States "the oil, land, and other assets it previously stole." Trump also stated that the "reasonable step" would be for President Nicolás Maduro to resign.
Against this backdrop, the US recently detained two vessels in the Caribbean Sea, which, according to Washington, Venezuela is using to evade sanctions. Furthermore, according to media reports, since December 22, the US Coast Guard has been pursuing a third tanker, which is also believed to be part of the South American country's "shadow fleet."
