Reuters- US President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government and targeting its primary source of revenue.
It remains unclear how the blockade would be enforced or whether the US Coast Guard will be used to interdict vessels, as it did last week when a sanctioned tanker was seized off Venezuela’s coast. The Trump administration has deployed thousands of troops and nearly a dozen warships to the region, including an aircraft carrier.
Announcing the move on Truth Social, Trump accused the Venezuelan government of “theft of our assets,” as well as terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking. He said the Maduro government has been designated a “foreign terrorist organization,” justifying the blockade of sanctioned oil tankers. Venezuela’s government rejected the announcement, calling it a “grotesque threat.”
Oil prices rose more than 1% in Asian trading on Wednesday amid concerns over potential supply disruptions. Brent crude climbed to around $59.6 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate rose to about $56. Analysts said prices were reacting to the possibility of reduced Venezuelan exports, though uncertainty remains over how broadly the blockade would be applied and whether non-sanctioned vessels would be affected.Venezuelan crude exports have already fallen sharply following the seizure of a sanctioned tanker last week, with several vessels opting to remain in Venezuelan waters rather than risk interception.
Exports have been further disrupted by a cyberattack that temporarily disabled administrative systems at state oil company PDVSA.China remains the largest buyer of Venezuelan crude, which accounts for about 4% of its total oil imports. December shipments were expected to average more than 600,000 barrels per day, according to analysts.
Legal experts warned the move could raise serious domestic and international law questions. Elena Chachko, an international law scholar at UC Berkeley, said blockades are traditionally considered instruments of war and are subject to strict legal conditions. US Representative Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from Texas, described the blockade as “unquestionably an act of war” that had not been authorized by Congress.
US officials said a fully implemented blockade could significantly weaken Maduro’s government. Former State Department energy diplomat David Goldwyn warned it could push oil prices up by $5 to $8 a barrel if supplies are not offset by increased OPEC production, adding that Venezuela could face severe inflation and a new wave of migration.
Since energy sanctions were imposed in 2019, Venezuela has relied on a “shadow fleet” of tankers—many already under sanctions for transporting Iranian or Russian oil—to export crude. Data from TankerTrackers.com shows that more than 30 of the roughly 80 ships currently in or near Venezuelan waters are under US sanctions.
Tensions between Washington and Caracas have intensified in recent weeks, with increased US military activity near Venezuela and Trump warning that land strikes could soon follow. Maduro has accused the United States of seeking to overthrow his government to gain control of the country’s vast oil reserves.Speaking earlier on Tuesday, Maduro said foreign powers were attempting to “colonize Venezuela to take over its oil, gas, gold and other resources,” adding that his government was committed to defending the country’s sovereignty.
