President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered what he called a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, a move that sharply escalates U.S. pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government and raises the risk of a broader confrontation in the region.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump highlighted the scale of U.S. military assets deployed near Venezuela and suggested additional forces could be sent. He accused Maduro’s government of stealing resources from the United States and said Venezuela must return “oil, land and other assets” before the blockade would be lifted, linking the military buildup to long‑standing disputes over the country’s vast petroleum reserves.
The order comes amid a renewed U.S. crackdown on Venezuela’s oil sector, following new sanctions earlier this year and the recent seizure of a tanker carrying Venezuelan crude. The measures target the country’s primary economic lifeline, which has already been weakened by years of international restrictions and declining production.
Venezuela’s government condemned the announcement as a “reckless and serious threat,” accusing Washington of attempting to justify a naval blockade to seize the country’s natural resources. Officials said the move violates international law and vowed to raise the issue before the United Nations, calling it an attack on national sovereignty.
International reaction has been cautious. Several Latin American governments urged restraint, while diplomats in New York said the UN Security Council is monitoring the situation closely. China, one of Venezuela’s largest oil buyers, criticized the blockade as destabilizing and called for dialogue rather than military pressure.
The U.S. government has maintained sanctions on Venezuela since 2005, with measures tightening significantly in 2019 when the Trump administration blocked crude exports to the United States. Although the Biden administration later eased some restrictions to stabilize global fuel prices, Trump has reversed several of those steps since returning to office, reinstating limits on Chevron’s operations in Venezuela.
Analysts warn the blockade could disrupt global oil markets, particularly if shipping routes in the Caribbean become restricted. Venezuela’s oil reserves are the world’s largest, but production has collapsed due to sanctions and infrastructure decay. Any further decline could worsen the country’s economic crisis, where shortages of fuel, food and medicine remain widespread.
Humanitarian groups expressed concern that a blockade could deepen suffering for ordinary Venezuelans, who have endured years of hyperinflation, mass migration and collapsing public services. Aid organizations say additional restrictions on oil exports could limit the government’s ability to fund essential imports.
Legal experts note that naval blockades are considered acts of war under several international treaties. A U.S. Justice Department memo from 1961, written during tensions with Cuba, stated that such actions are typically justified only when a state of war exists, raising questions about the legal basis for Trump’s order.
As both governments harden their positions, the confrontation has raised fears of miscalculation. With U.S. forces expanding their presence and Venezuela vowing to defend its territory, analysts say the next steps — whether diplomatic or military — will determine whether the crisis stabilizes or spirals into a wider conflict.
