"Trump Slams Venezuela Oil Trade with Total Blockade"

US President Donald Trump Orders Total Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers Entering and Leaving Venezuela In a move aimed at escalating pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, US President Donald Trump has ordered a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the country. The blockade, which was announced on December 17, 2025, is part of an ongoing campaign by the Trump administration to topple Maduro's authoritarian regime. According to a statement made by Trump on his social media platform Truth Social, the blockade will be enforced by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America, surrounding Venezuela from all sides. "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America," Trump said in the statement. The blockade is expected to have a significant impact on Venezuela's economy, which is heavily reliant on oil exports. According to a report by the International Energy Agency, Venezuela's oil exports have been severely curtailed by US sanctions, which have been in place since 2019. The sanctions have been aimed at crippling Maduro's regime and forcing him to step down. The move is the latest in a series of escalating measures taken by the Trump administration against Maduro's regime. In recent weeks, the US military has launched a series of attacks on vessels in the eastern Pacific, killing at least eight people. According to a report by Al Jazeera, the attacks were aimed at disrupting Maduro's regime and forcing him to negotiate with the opposition. The blockade is also seen as a response to Maduro's refusal to step down and allow for free and fair elections in Venezuela. According to a report by The Guardian, the Trump administration has been working closely with opposition leaders in Venezuela to build a coalition to overthrow Maduro's regime. The blockade has been met with widespread criticism from human rights groups and international organizations, who have expressed concerns about the impact on civilians and the potential for humanitarian crisis. According to a statement by the United Nations, the blockade could lead to a "serious humanitarian crisis" in Venezuela, where millions of people are already struggling to access basic necessities like food and medicine. As the situation in Venezuela continues to deteriorate, the international community is watching with bated breath. According to a report by Al Jazeera, the US is expected to continue to ramp up pressure on Maduro's regime in the coming weeks, with a series of diplomatic and military measures aimed at forcing him to step down. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Venezuelan government said that the blockade was an "act of war" and that Maduro's regime would not be intimidated by the US. "We will not be deterred by the US's aggressive actions," the spokesperson said. "We will continue to fight for the rights and dignity of the Venezuelan people." The situation in Venezuela remains highly volatile, with millions of people struggling to access basic necessities like food and medicine. As the US continues to ramp up pressure on Maduro's regime, the international community is bracing itself for a potential humanitarian crisis.