17-12-2025

Trump Orders Blockade of Venezuelan Oil Tankers

Date: 17-12-2025
Sources: bbc.com: 1 | cbsnews.com: 1 | edition.cnn.com: 2 | france24.com: 1 | news.sky.com: 1 | nypost.com: 1 | nytimes.com: 1 | scmp.com: 1 | theguardian.com: 1 | washingtonpost.com: 1
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Source: news.sky.com

Image content: The image is a map of the Caribbean region, with several countries and bodies of water labeled. The main subject or scene shown is a map of the Caribbean region. * The visible locations include: * Countries: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil * Bodies of water: Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean * The image highlights the geographical location of Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, and surrounding areas. The map is a visual representation of the region, with a focus on Trinidad and Tobago and its neighboring countries. The map is labeled with country names and body of water names, providing a clear and concise visual representation of the region. Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela are highlighted.

Summary

US President Donald Trump has announced a 'total and complete blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, escalating economic pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government. The move is seen as an attempt to strangle Venezuela's economy and potentially lead to regime change.

Key Points

  • The blockade is aimed at sanctioned oil tankers and could cripple Venezuela's oil exports, a crucial part of the country's economy.
  • Venezuela's government has denounced the blockade as a 'grotesque threat' and a violation of international law.
  • The move has raised concerns about the impact on global oil prices and the legality of the US actions.
  • Trump has accused Venezuela of using oil revenue to fund drug trafficking and other crimes.

Articles in this Cluster

Trump says he's ordering blockade on oil tankers in and out of Venezuela

US President Donald Trump announced a 'total and complete' blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela, accusing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro's government of terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. Venezuela's government rejected the threat, and US lawmakers are set to vote on a resolution to end hostilities with Venezuela. The move is the latest escalation in a long-standing dispute between the US and Venezuela, with the US having imposed sanctions on Venezuelan oil and individuals associated with Maduro's government.
Entities: Donald Trump, Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela, United States, Truth SocialTone: negativeSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Trump orders "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers in Venezuela - CBS News

President Trump has ordered a 'total and complete blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, escalating economic pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The move comes after the US military seized a sanctioned oil tanker last week and amid allegations of Maduro's government colluding with drug cartels and exporting oil to finance terrorism and human trafficking. The Venezuelan government has denounced the blockade as a 'grotesque threat' and a violation of international law, accusing the Trump administration of seeking to 'appropriate the oil, land and minerals of the country.' The blockade could lead to further seizures of oil tankers and potentially impact global oil prices, although White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett believes it is unlikely to lead to significant price increases.
Entities: Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump, Venezuela, United States, IranTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Trump orders ‘total and complete blockade’ of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving Venezuela | CNN PoliticsClose icon

President Donald Trump has ordered a 'total and complete blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving Venezuela, escalating pressure on the Maduro regime. Trump suggested that the US wants Venezuela to return 'stolen' oil, land, and assets. The move is seen as a significant escalation of the US military campaign in the region, with Venezuela denouncing it as a 'reckless and serious threat'. The blockade is considered an act of war under some international treaties, and Venezuela's government has vowed to defend its sovereignty.
Entities: Donald Trump, Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, United States, South AmericaTone: negativeSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Trump’s blockade could lead to regime change in Venezuela - analyst says | CNNClose iconClose iconClose icon

The article discusses President Trump's announcement of a 'total and complete blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers coming to and leaving from Venezuela, which an analyst believes could lead to regime change in the country. Trump made the announcement through a Truth Social post, escalating his rhetoric against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro's regime.
Entities: President Trump, Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, Truth Social, sanctioned oil tankersTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Trump orders blockade of 'sanctioned oil tankers' bound for Venezuela - France 24

US President Donald Trump announced a blockade of 'sanctioned oil tankers' entering or leaving Venezuela, escalating the US campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The move follows the recent seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast and a growing US military buildup in the region. Trump alleged that Venezuela was using oil revenue to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, and vowed to continue the military buildup until Venezuela turned over oil, land, and other assets to the US. Venezuela's government has denounced the move, with Maduro praising the country's strength in the face of US pressure.
Entities: Donald Trump, Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, United States, Venezuela's oilTone: negativeSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Trump says the quiet part out loud - and seems to have three aims for Venezuela | US News | Sky News

The article analyzes US President Donald Trump's recent social media post regarding Venezuela, suggesting that the US is pursuing regime change and seeking to regain control over Venezuelan oil assets. Trump's statements reveal three main goals: removing the Maduro regime, seizing control of Venezuelan oil through commercial partnerships, and stopping drug and people smuggling into the US. The article argues that Trump's public messaging on countering the drug trade is a cover for the true intentions of asserting American control over the western hemisphere.
Entities: Donald Trump, Venezuela, Maduro, United States, South AmericaTone: analyticalSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Oil prices rises over 1% as Trump's Venezuela blockade stokes uncertainty | New York Post

Oil prices rose over 1% on Wednesday after President Donald Trump ordered a 'total and complete' blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, raising fresh geopolitical tensions. Brent crude futures were up 1.3% at $59.71 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 1.4% to $56.04 a barrel. The move could potentially impact 0.4-0.5 million barrels of oil per day, lifting prices by $1-2 per barrel. However, traders said the price uptick is unlikely to last, and the market is still under downside risk due to fragile global demand and progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Analysts say the oil market is well supplied for now, but a prolonged disruption can be supportive of prices of heavy crude grades.
Entities: Donald Trump, Venezuela, Brent crude, US West Texas Intermediate crude, RussiaTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Trump Orders Blockade of Some Oil Tankers to and From Venezuela - The New York Times

President Trump has ordered a 'complete blockade' on sanctioned oil tankers going to and from Venezuela, escalating his administration's pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro. The move could cripple Venezuela's oil exports, which are the lifeblood of the country's economy. The US has been building up a naval force in the Caribbean and has seized a tanker carrying Venezuelan oil for Cuba and China. Trump claims the operation will continue until Venezuela returns 'all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.' The announcement has raised concerns about the impact on the global oil market and the legality of the US actions.
Entities: Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, Donald Trump, United States, CaribbeanTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela | South China Morning Post

US President Donald Trump has ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela, escalating pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government. The move is seen as an attempt to strangle the South American country's economy. Venezuela's government has condemned the blockade as 'irrational' and a 'reckless and grave threat' against the country. Trump alleged that Venezuela is using oil to fund drug trafficking and other crimes, and demanded that the country return oil, land, and assets to the US.
Entities: Donald Trump, Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, United States, South AmericaTone: negativeSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Trump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela | Donald Trump | The Guardian

US President Donald Trump has ordered a 'total and complete' blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, escalating tensions between the two countries. The move comes amid a ramped-up military presence in the region and recent military strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela. Venezuela's government has condemned the blockade as a 'grotesque threat' and accused the US of 'blatant theft' and 'international piracy' after the US seized an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast last week. The blockade is likely to push oil prices higher if it remains in place, as Venezuelan crude exports have already fallen sharply. The Trump administration has defended its efforts as a success in preventing drugs from reaching American shores, but lawmakers have raised concerns about the legality of the military strikes.
Entities: Donald Trump, Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, USS Iwo Jima, PonceTone: negativeSentiment: negativeIntent: inform

Trump announces ‘complete blockade’ of sanctioned oil tankers to Venezuela - The Washington Post

President Donald Trump has ordered a 'total and complete blockade' of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, escalating his pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro's government. This move is seen as a dramatic step up in Trump's efforts to pressure Maduro's regime.
Entities: Donald Trump, Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, oil tankers, sanctioned oil tankersTone: neutralSentiment: negativeIntent: inform