Trump Labels Venezuelan Government as Terrorist Organization
President Donald Trump has officially categorized the Venezuelan government as a terrorist organization and has mandated a full blockade of sanctioned oil tankers heading to and from Venezuela.
He made this announcement via a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, indicating an increase in pressure on the Venezuelan regime.
“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — until they return to the United States all of the oil, land, and other assets that they previously stole from us,” he expressed.
Trump criticized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom he considers an illegitimate authority, asserting that the regime utilizes oil from “stolen oil fields” to fuel activities such as drug terrorism, human trafficking, and murder.
“For the theft of our assets, and many other reasons, including terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking, the Venezuelan regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” the president stated.
“Therefore, today, I am ordering a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela,” he added.
“The illegal aliens and criminals that the Maduro regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace. America will not allow criminals, terrorists, or hostile countries to rob or threaten our nation, and we will not permit a hostile regime to take our oil, land, or any other assets, which must be returned to the United States immediately,” Trump continued.
This decision follows the U.S. seizing an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week, amid an increasing military presence in the region.
“For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations,” Attorney General Pam Bondi remarked following the operation. “This seizure, completed off the coast of Venezuela, was conducted safely and securely, and our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues.”
The vessel, known as the “Skipper,” has been secretly transporting oil in violation of sanctions and is part of a fleet of around 1,000 so-called “ghost ships” that move oil from sanctioned countries like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela while sailing under foreign flags.
In a Tuesday statement, the Venezuelan government accused Trump of “violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation,” calling it “a reckless and grave threat.”
“On his social media, he assumes that Venezuela’s oil, land, and mineral wealth are his property,” their statement read, criticizing Trump’s demand for Venezuela to hand over its resources. They accused him of planning “an utterly irrational” naval blockade aimed at stealing the country’s wealth.
According to the statement, the Maduro administration intends to bring this issue before the United Nations.
Since September, Trump has increased military actions against Venezuela, with the Pentagon conducting strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. At least 25 strikes have occurred since, resulting in nearly 100 casualties.
Trump hinted during the Thanksgiving holiday that military operations could also extend to land in Venezuela “very soon.”
His Chief of Staff Susie Wiles mentioned in a Vanity Fair interview that the president’s strategy appears to be exhausting Maduro: “He wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.”
