In a dramatic intensification of pressure on Caracas, former U.S. President Donald Trump has declared a comprehensive naval blockade prohibiting all sanctioned oil tankers from entering or departing Venezuelan waters. This decisive action represents the most aggressive measure to date in Washington’s campaign against the administration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Through an official communication on Truth Social, Trump asserted that substantial U.S. military assets have encircled Venezuela within Caribbean territories. He leveled serious accusations against the Maduro government, claiming it utilizes national petroleum resources to bankroll narco-terrorism operations, human trafficking networks, kidnapping schemes, and various illicit enterprises. The former president framed this maritime blockade as essential to halt prohibited crude exports and recover assets allegedly expropriated from United States interests.
This blockade significantly expands ongoing U.S. naval operations in international Caribbean waters, previously justified as counter-narcotics initiatives targeting regional drug trafficking organizations. Although White House officials haven’t quantified the expected impact on tanker movements, energy analysts anticipate substantial disruptions to Venezuelan petroleum exports with potential ramifications for global oil markets.
The escalation follows intensified activities by U.S. Southern Command, which has interdicted over thirty vessels since August accused of narcotics transportation and sanctions evasion. Most notably, American forces recently captured the sanctioned Skipper tanker—a vessel long associated with Venezuela’s so-called “shadow fleet”—while it transported crude near Venezuela’s coastline. The apprehended ship was escorted to a U.S. port where legal proceedings to confiscate its cargo are underway.