Trump alleged that Venezuela was utilising funds from selling oil to to traffic drugs and other crimes and pledged to continue the military buildup in the region. (AP Photos) After US President Donald Trump announced a “total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers into Venezuela, in a move to ramp up pressure on Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, Caracas administration has termed it as “warmongering threats” against the South American nation.
The Trump administration’s escalation comes as US forces seized an oil tanker last week off the Venezuela coast which was followed by an unusual buildup of military forces in the region. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday night, Trump alleged that Venezuela was utilising funds from selling oil to to traffic drugs and other crimes and pledged to continue the military buildup in the region till Caracas agrees to give the US oil, land and assets.
“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before. Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us,” Trump wrote in the post.
The US forces have also conducted deadly strikes on Venezuelan vessels allegedly smuggling drugs off the Caribbean and Pacific coast and built up its naval presence in the region.
Meanwhile, the Venezuela government accused the Trump administration of seeking to steal its resources and “violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation with “a reckless and grave threat”. Maduro’s government has planned to denounce the move by Washington before the United Nations.
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The Venezuela administration, in a statement on Trump’s ship blockade order said, “On his social media, he assumes that Venezuela’s oil, land, and mineral wealth are his property. Consequently, he demands that Venezuela immediately hand over all its riches.”
It added, “The President of the United States intends to impose, in an utterly irrational manner, a supposed naval blockade on Venezuela with the aim of stealing the wealth that belongs to our nation.”
The Trump administration after seizing the oil tanker last week introduced new sanctions on six more ships said to be carrying Venezuela oil.
(with inputs from AP)
