The White House has directed American military forces to prioritize enforcing a comprehensive maritime quarantine against Venezuelan oil shipments for the coming two months, according to a Reuters report citing an anonymous U.S. official. This strategic shift emphasizes economic pressure through stringent sanctions enforcement as the primary tool to achieve Washington’s objectives regarding Venezuela.
The official indicated that current measures have substantially increased pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s administration, potentially pushing Venezuela toward economic crisis by late January without significant concessions to U.S. demands. This development follows President Donald Trump’s declaration last week of a “full and total blockade” against all sanctioned tankers operating in Venezuelan waters, characterizing Maduro’s government as a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Recent operational successes include the diversion of the oil tanker Bella I, which abandoned its Venezuela-bound course and retreated into Atlantic waters after pursuit by U.S. forces. This marks the third such vessel intercepted this month, with two previous tankers already detained in Caribbean operations.
Venezuela has consistently denounced these actions as acts of “piracy” and accused the United States of pursuing regime change and military expansionism in Latin America. The situation prompted an emergency United Nations Security Council session where most member states advocated for adherence to the UN Charter and urged restraint to prevent further escalation.
President Trump has repeatedly justified the measures by alleging Venezuela facilitates drug trafficking into the United States. His administration has conducted maritime operations against suspected drug vessels and authorized covert CIA activities targeting Caracas, while repeatedly threatening strikes against narcotics infrastructure on Venezuelan territory.
Venezuelan UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada countered these allegations, stating unequivocally that “The threat is not Venezuela. The threat is the U.S. government.” The escalating situation represents one of the most significant applications of naval power for economic coercion in recent Western Hemisphere relations.