US Intensifies Pressure on Venezuela with Naval Blockade

US President Donald Trump has ordered a 'total and complete' blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a move denounced by Caracas as 'warmongering threats'. The blockade is part of a broader escalation of US actions against Venezuela, including the seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week and deadly strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats. Venezuela's government has accused the US of seeking to steal its resources and has denounced the US military build-up in the Caribbean Sea. The US has imposed sanctions on ships carrying Venezuelan oil and on some of President Maduro's relatives and businesses associated with his regime. The situation has raised concerns about the potential for conflict and the impact on the Venezuelan economy, which is heavily dependent on oil exports.

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 as the administration considers further actions against Maduro's government, which it accuses of colluding with drug cartels and stealing US assets. Venezuela has denounced the blockade as a 'grotesque threat' and a violation of international law.

The U.S. military conducted a strike on an alleged drug-running boat in the Eastern Pacific, killing four people, as part of a series of strikes against drug-trafficking vessels in the region. The strike was ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and it is the 26th such strike since September 2, killing at least 99 people. The U.S. military provided no evidence to support allegations that the boat was ferrying drugs. The strikes have been part of a pressure campaign by the Trump administration on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whom it accuses of being involved in drug trafficking. Venezuela has criticized the boat strikes, and Maduro denies working with drug cartels. Some lawmakers and legal experts have raised concerns that the strikes could constitute war crimes, particularly after a 'double tap' strike on September 2 that killed 11 people.

The US military conducted a strike against an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing 4 people, as part of Operation Southern Spear. This marks the second strike this week, bringing the total death toll to at least 99 people. The Trump administration has increased military action in South America, focused on Venezuela, accusing it of stealing US assets. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responded by accusing the US of seeking regime change. Lawmakers are pressuring the administration for more information about the strikes, with some scrutinizing a controversial follow-up strike. The Pentagon has refused to release the full video of the attack to the public, but will share it with certain Congressional committees.

The Trump administration has released a new National Security Strategy (NSS) that places the Western Hemisphere at the center of U.S. national security planning, with a focus on regional instability, mass migration, cartels, and foreign influence. The strategy is seen as a response to the crisis in Venezuela, where the Maduro regime is labeled a 'narco-dictatorship' and a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The U.S. has imposed a naval blockade on sanctioned oil tankers and is working to strengthen regional security partnerships and curb drug flows. Analysts are divided on the potential impact of the strategy, with some warning of destabilization and others seeing it as a necessary response to the growing threat from Latin America.

US President Donald Trump has made a social media post regarding Venezuela, revealing three ultimate aims: removing the Maduro regime and supporting a friendly government, seizing control of Venezuela's oil through commercial partnerships, and stopping drug and people smuggling into the US. Trump's post appears to be an offload of thoughts, saying out loud what many have suspected all along - that the US naval and Air Force presence in the Caribbean off Venezuela is about regime change and oil, rather than just countering the drug trade. The US had previously been a huge importer of Venezuelan oil, and American companies extracted and refined the oil until Venezuela nationalised the foreign oil assets under Hugo Chavez in the 2000s. Trump's ultimate ambition seems to be asserting American control over the western hemisphere.

The US has carried out a lethal strike on a vessel allegedly engaged in drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, killing four people, as part of a broader campaign against alleged drug-trafficking boats. The strike comes a day after President Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, accusing the country of using oil to fund drug trafficking and other crimes. Venezuela has denied the allegations and insisted that its oil exports continue normally. The move has been met with international reactions, including support from China and criticism from Mexico.

The US has announced a 'total and complete blockade' of oil tankers operating under US sanctions and bound for or departing from Venezuela, as part of President Donald Trump's efforts to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The move is expected to severely impact Venezuela's oil exports, which are a critical component of the country's economy. The blockade targets over 30 tankers in the Caribbean that have been designated as sanctioned by the Treasury Department. The measure is likely to have a significant impact on Venezuela's government revenue, as oil sales account for more than half of the country's fiscal revenue. The Maduro government has denounced the announcement as 'grotesque' and 'warmongering threats' and has vowed to denounce the move before the United Nations. The US energy giant Chevron, which has operated in Venezuela for over a century, has stated that its work in the country continues 'without disruption and in full compliance with laws and regulations applicable to its business'.