Venezuela Condemns US "Total Blockade" on Oil Tankers

(MENAFN) Venezuela strongly criticized the United States on Tuesday for its decision to enforce a "total blockade" on oil tankers, denouncing the action as a breach of international law.

In an official announcement, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez accused President Trump of making "reckless and serious threats" that violate the fundamental principles of free trade and the right to navigate international waters.

The statement followed US President Donald Trump’s Monday declaration that he had ordered a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned ships attempting to enter or depart from the South American nation, which has been experiencing a buildup of US military forces off its northern coast along the Caribbean Sea.

Caracas described the decision as "grotesque," accusing Trump of attempting to take control of the country’s natural resources. The government statement suggested that Trump "assumes that Venezuela's oil, land, and mineral wealth are his property."

On his US social media platform, Truth Social, Trump asserted that Venezuela was "completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the history of South America."

He also cautioned that US pressure would continue to escalate until Caracas returns "all of the oil, land, and other assets that they previously stole from us," likely referring to the nationalization of US-owned assets in past decades.

This confrontation represents the latest escalation in a prolonged campaign of US pressure on Venezuela over the past several months.

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