US President Donald Trump said he had ordered a ‘total and complete’ blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela.
In a post on Truth Social, he said the government of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro had been designated a foreign terrorist organization and accused the government of theft of American assets and “terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking.”
“Therefore, today I order a complete and total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela,” he added.
His comments came a week after the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The Venezuelan government said in a statement that it rejected Trump’s “bizarre threats.”
In his post, Trump said Venezuela was “completely surrounded by the largest fleet in South American history.”
He added that it will be “bigger” and “like nothing we’ve ever seen before.”
President Trump also accused the Maduro government of using stolen oil to finance narco-terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnappings.
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of drug smuggling, and since September, U.S. forces have killed at least 90 people in airstrikes on boats transporting fentanyl and other illegal drugs to the United States.
In recent months, the United States has also moved warships to the region.
Venezuela, which has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has accused the United States of trying to steal its resources.
The United States, under President Trump and former President Joe Biden, has opposed Maduro’s government for years and has imposed strict sanctions to pressure his ouster.
Last week, the United States imposed new sanctions on six ships it said were carrying Venezuelan oil.
Sanctions have also been imposed on some of President Maduro’s relatives and companies linked to what the United States calls his illegitimate regime.
A day earlier, the United States announced that it had seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
The White House said the seized vessel, called the Captain, was involved in “illicit oil transport” and would be taken to a U.S. port.
Venezuela’s government condemned the seizure, and Maduro said the United States had “kidnapped the crew” and “stole” the ship.
The United States had been building up its military presence in the Caribbean, bordering Venezuela to the north, in the days before the airstrikes.
It included thousands of troops and the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, deployed within striking distance of Venezuela.
Representative Joaquin Castro, a Democrat representing Texas, said Trump’s naval blockade was undoubtedly an act of war.
He added that U.S. lawmakers would vote on a resolution on Thursday “directing the President to cease hostilities with Venezuela.”
