Venezuela Denounces Trump's Ship Blockade Order as Warmongering
Former US President Donald Trump has ordered a “total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers heading to or from Venezuela, a move swiftly condemned by Caracas as “warmongering threats.”
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that the Venezuelan government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, has been designated a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO), accusing it of involvement in “Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking.”
This escalation follows the US seizure of an oil tanker, the Skipper, off the Venezuelan coast last week – a significant action considering Venezuela’s heavy reliance on oil revenue. The White House justified the seizure, stating the vessel was involved in “illicit oil shipping” and would be taken to a US port.
The US has also undertaken recent military actions, including strikes on vessels allegedly involved in drug smuggling, resulting in casualties. Simultaneously, a substantial increase in US naval presence has been observed in the region, with the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, positioned within striking distance.
While Trump’s announcement signals a comprehensive blockade, details regarding its enforcement remain unclear. Data from TankerTrackers.com indicates that as of last week, over 30 of the 80 ships in Venezuelan waters or approaching the country were already under US sanctions.
Following the tanker seizure, the US imposed further sanctions on ships allegedly transporting Venezuelan oil, as well as on relatives of President Maduro and businesses linked to his administration, which Washington deems illegitimate. Trump claimed Venezuela was “completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” adding that the force would continue to grow.
The former president also accused Maduro’s government of utilising “stolen” oil to fund “Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping.” He has consistently levelled accusations of drug smuggling against Venezuela, citing the deaths of at least 90 individuals in military strikes targeting boats allegedly carrying fentanyl and other illegal drugs since September.
However, the US has yet to present public evidence supporting these claims, particularly regarding the presence of fentanyl – primarily produced in Mexico – or cocaine on the targeted vessels. The designation of the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles as an FTO last month effectively broadened the “terrorist” label to encompass the entire Maduro government, a claim vehemently denied by Caracas.
Venezuela, possessing the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has responded by accusing the US of attempting to steal its resources. Despite its vast reserves, Venezuela’s oil production remains relatively low, making it heavily dependent on oil exports.
Maduro himself condemned the tanker seizure as a “kidnapping” of the crew and the “theft” of the ship. Congressman Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, labelled Trump’s naval blockade an “unquestionably an act of war,” with US lawmakers scheduled to vote on Thursday on a resolution to end hostilities with Venezuela.
The US has long opposed the Maduro government, with both Trump and President Joe Biden administrations implementing stringent sanctions aimed at his removal. Maduro’s government faces widespread accusations of human rights abuses, and his election last year was denounced as rigged by the opposition and numerous international actors, including the US.
The UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, on Tuesday warned of an “intensified crackdown on civic space” in Venezuela, “suffocating people’s freedoms.”
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