Former US President Donald Trump has declared a sweeping maritime blockade targeting Venezuela's oil exports, marking a significant escalation in his administration's campaign against the South American nation's authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro.
A "Total and Complete" Blockade Announced
In a social media post on his platform Truth Social, Trump proclaimed he was ordering "a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela." He framed the move as part of an effort to cut off funding for alleged drug trafficking and other crimes, vowing that the military pressure would intensify.
"Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America," Trump wrote. "It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before."
Military Buildup and Recent Strikes
This announcement follows a period of heightened military activity in the region. The Trump administration has significantly increased its naval presence near Venezuela, conducting more than two dozen military strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea since early September.
According to the Pentagon, these strikes, which have targeted boats accused of drug trafficking, have resulted in at least 95 fatalities. Just this week, US forces struck three boats in the Pacific, killing eight people.
The campaign reached a new level last week when US forces seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast. The vessel, reportedly carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude, was intercepted as it travelled across the Caribbean. The Venezuelan government condemned the action as "blatant theft" and "an act of international piracy," sharply raising diplomatic tensions.
Political Motives and Secrecy Concerns
While the administration publicly justifies the operations as a necessary measure to prevent drugs from reaching the United States, political motives appear increasingly clear. In a recent interview, Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, indicated the campaign is designed to force Maduro from power, stating Trump "wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle."
The administration's secrecy has drawn criticism from lawmakers. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has refused to release video footage of a major attack on 2 September, classifying it as "top secret" and stating its release would violate Department of War policy. Several US legislators have called for greater transparency regarding the strikes.
The Trump administration continues to defend the strategy as a success in disrupting narcotics flows, pushing back against concerns it may be stretching the legal boundaries of warfare. This latest order for a comprehensive naval blockade signals a further hardening of the US stance, with significant implications for regional stability and global energy markets.
