Trump announces full naval blockade of Venezuela, calls government terrorist

President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Venezuela by announcing a comprehensive naval blockade aimed at halting all sanctioned oil tanker traffic to and from the country. In a statement on Tuesday, he branded the government of Nicolás Maduro a "foreign terrorist organization" and demanded the return of disputed assets.

Justification and Demands for the Blockade

Trump detailed the policy on his social media platform, Truth Social, claiming Venezuela is “completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America.” He asserted the blockade would remain until Caracas returns “all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets,” accusing the Maduro regime of using oil revenue to fund criminal activities, including drug trafficking and kidnapping.

Context of Military Buildup and Prior Actions

The declaration follows a significant US military buildup in the region and ongoing demands for Maduro to relinquish power. Trump has repeatedly stated that all options, including military force, remain under consideration. The US has already conducted 22 known strikes on vessels it linked to "narco-terrorism" since early September, resulting in 87 fatalities.

Venezuela's Accusations and Counter-Narrative

Venezuela has condemned the US actions as "maritime piracy" and part of a coercive campaign. Caracas alleges that Washington's true objective is to seize Venezuela's vast oil reserves under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, arguing this sets the stage for an unlawful attempt at regime change. The dispute intensified recently after US forces seized a Venezuelan oil shipment in international waters.