President Donald Trump has issued a directive to block all sanctioned oil tankers from entering Venezuela. The announcement was made through a social media post on Tuesday, December 16, increasing pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and tightening the grip on the country’s economy. This action follows the recent seizure of an oil tanker by US forces off Venezuela’s coast.
In his social media post, the president accused Venezuela of using oil proceeds to support illegal activities, including drug trafficking, and declared that the military buildup will persist until the country surrenders oil, land, and assets to the United States. The post emphasized that Venezuela is encircled by a formidable naval force, hinting at further escalation until compliance is achieved.
The Pentagon has redirected inquiries about the directive to the White House as the military operations have intensified with strikes on boats in international waters in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. These military actions have resulted in at least 95 casualties across 25 confirmed strikes, prompting scrutiny from US lawmakers. The Trump administration justifies the campaign as successful in halting drug trafficking efforts towards the United States.
Despite claims that the initiative primarily focuses on drug interception, Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, disclosed that it is also part of a strategy to remove Maduro from power. The move is in line with Trump’s determination to persist with naval operations until Maduro capitulates.
The latest announcement via social media on Tuesday evening reinforces the administration’s stance. Venezuela, possessing the largest proven oil reserves globally and producing approximately one million barrels daily, heavily relies on oil revenues for economic sustenance. Following the US-imposed oil sanctions in 2017, Maduro’s government has resorted to using unregistered tankers to smuggle crude oil into the international market.
The state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), has been excluded from global oil markets by the US, resulting in most sales occurring on the black market, predominantly to China. A significant portion of Venezuela’s daily oil production is exported, with a substantial percentage going to China, a portion to the US through Chevron Corp., and the remainder to Cuba.
The specifics of how the US will implement the proclaimed “TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS” entering and leaving Venezuela post the presidential announcement remain unclear. However, the US Navy’s presence of 11 vessels in the region, equipped with various aircraft, positions them to effectively monitor maritime traffic in and out of the country.