CARACAS – Venezuela has adopted new legislation imposing prison sentences of up to 20 years for acts defined as “piracy” and blockades, in a move that comes amid escalating tensions between the government of President Nicolás Maduro and the United States.
The law was approved as Caracas reacts to an expanded U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and recent seizures of Venezuelan-linked oil shipments. The Maduro government has repeatedly described these actions as acts of “piracy” carried out under the guise of sanctions enforcement.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil warned countries in the region this week against what he called American “aggression.” According to Gil, the United States is attempting to undermine Venezuela’s sovereignty by intercepting oil tankers and restricting maritime trade routes.
The United States, under President Donald Trump, has sharply increased pressure on Caracas. Earlier this month, the U.S. Coast Guard seized several oil tankers linked to Venezuela, while additional vessels were intercepted or targeted in recent days. Trump has publicly announced a “total blockade” of ships traveling to and from Venezuela that are connected to sanctioned entities.
The new Venezuelan law is intended to deter what the government views as unlawful interference with its maritime commerce. It broadens the legal definition of piracy to include foreign seizures of vessels, cargoes, or energy shipments, and introduces lengthy prison terms for those deemed responsible or complicit.
The measures have drawn mixed reactions internationally. Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize nominee María Corina Machado has voiced support for U.S. sanctions and the increased American military presence, arguing that external pressure is necessary to force political change in Venezuela. Machado has not appeared publicly since a recent visit to Oslo linked to the Nobel Peace Prize process.
The adoption of the law further underscores the deepening standoff between Caracas and Washington, with regional implications for maritime security, energy markets, and trade routes in the Caribbean.