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Trump Announces Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers Linked to Venezuela
Dec 17, 2025Former US President Donald Trump has announced what he described as a “total and complete blockade” of all US-sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, escalating tensions with the South American nation.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had been designated a foreign terrorist organisation and accused it of stealing US assets. He claimed Venezuela was “completely surrounded” by what he called the largest naval armada ever assembled in South American history.
Trump’s remarks came a week after the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. He also accused the Maduro government of using oil revenues to finance criminal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping.
Venezuela’s government rejected the statement, describing it as a “grotesque threat” and denouncing what it called continued US aggression.
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of involvement in drug smuggling. According to US officials, since September the US military has carried out strikes on vessels it alleges were transporting fentanyl and other illegal drugs toward the United States, resulting in at least 90 deaths.
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