U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, escalating Washington’s pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro’s government.
Washington, December 16, 2025
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that all sanctioned oil tankers moving in and out of Venezuela will face a “total and complete blockade”, a move aimed at choking off the country’s primary source of revenue.
Trump declared the Venezuelan regime a “foreign terrorist organization”, citing alleged theft of U.S. assets, terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. He vowed to enforce the blockade with military muscle, noting that thousands of U.S. troops and nearly a dozen warships including an aircraft carrier have been deployed to the region.
The announcement follows last week’s seizure of a sanctioned tanker off Venezuela’s coast. Trump suggested the Coast Guard could again be tasked with interdicting vessels, though details of enforcement remain unclear.
Maduro’s government condemned the move as a “grotesque threat”, pledging to denounce it before the United Nations. Analysts warn the blockade could heighten tensions in the Caribbean and complicate global oil markets, though its immediate impact on supply may be modest.
Key Points:
• Action: Trump orders blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering/leaving Venezuela.
• Designation: Venezuelan government labeled a “foreign terrorist organization.”
• Military presence: Thousands of U.S. troops and nearly a dozen warships deployed.
• Context: Follows seizure of a sanctioned tanker last week.
• Reaction: Maduro’s government calls move a “grotesque threat,” vows UN complaint.
• Market impact: Analysts expect limited immediate disruption to oil markets.
(Source – Reuters)
—Owned Sources
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