WASHINGTON – The United States has sharply escalated pressure on Venezuela after President Donald Trump announced a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the country, directly targeting the Maduro government’s main source of income.
Trump made the announcement on Tuesday via his Truth Social platform, accusing the Venezuelan government of asset theft, terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. He said Washington has formally designated the Venezuelan regime as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization,” a move that underpins the new directive against oil shipments.
“Therefore, today, I am ordering a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela,” Trump wrote.
It remains unclear how the United States intends to enforce the blockade in practice. U.S. officials have not specified whether the Coast Guard or Navy will be tasked with intercepting tankers, although Washington last week already seized a tanker carrying Venezuelan oil. In recent weeks, the U.S. has significantly expanded its military presence in the region, deploying thousands of troops and nearly a dozen warships, including an aircraft carrier, to waters near Venezuela and the southern Caribbean.
The announcement is expected to have far-reaching implications for regional maritime traffic and energy markets. Oil prices have already shown sensitivity to recent U.S. actions, and analysts warn that a full blockade—if enforced—could further disrupt shipping routes in the Caribbean, including areas close to the ABC islands.
Caracas reacted angrily to Trump’s statement. In an official response, the Venezuelan government rejected what it called a “grotesque threat,” accusing Washington of aggression and of seeking to strangle the country’s economy through unilateral measures.
The blockade declaration comes amid heightened tensions in the Caribbean, including recent incidents involving U.S. military aircraft and civilian aviation near Curaçao. For Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire, the developments raise concerns about regional stability, air and maritime safety, and the broader economic impact of a deepening confrontation between Washington and Caracas.