In a bold move on Tuesday, December 16, President Donald Trump announced a 'TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS' heading into or out of Venezuela 🛢️⚓. The order, shared on his Truth Social platform, aims to force Caracas to return stolen US assets and curb funding for what the White House calls 'drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping.'
The US naval armada in the Caribbean, including the largest aircraft carrier in the world, is set to grow until Venezuela hands over oil, land, and other assets. Caracas has slammed the blockade as 'absolutely irrational,' accusing Washington of violating free commerce and navigability.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro insists the military buildup is a pretext to overthrow him and steal the country’s oil. His government demands respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty and calls Trump’s move a blatant act of aggression.
This escalation follows weeks of US military jet flybys off the Venezuelan coast, deadly strikes on boats accused of drug trafficking (over 90 lives lost), and last week’s seizure of an oil tanker. Sanctions on additional vessels have heightened the pressure.
Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to civilian pilots ✈️, urging caution in Venezuelan airspace due to 'worsening security and heightened military activity.' Many airlines are now avoiding the region entirely, disrupting travel across northern South America.
As tensions climb, all eyes are on how Caracas will respond. Will Maduro back down, or is this the start of a deeper standoff in the Caribbean? 🌴
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
