Trump has designated the Venezuelan governme as a “foreign terrorist organization.”
In a provocative move, the US preside said he had designated Venezuela’s curre administration as a “foreign terrorist organization” and ordered a “total” blockade of all embargoed oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela.
According to Isna, US Preside Donald Trump said on the “Truth Social” platform on Tuesday: “Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest naval fleet ever formed in the history of South America.”
Fueling tensions in the Caribbean, Trump added: “This fleet is going to get bigger and the shock they’re going to get will be like nothing they’ve ever seen before; “Uil they return to the United States of America all the oil, land, and other assets they have previously stolen from us… The Venezuelan regime has been designated a foreign terrorist organization for stealing our assets and for many other reasons, including terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.”
The US preside also announced a “total and complete” blockade of all embargoed oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela.
According to Reuters News agency, it is not clear how Trump will apply this action against the sanctioned ships and whether he will resort to the Coast Guard to preve the ships from eering, as he did last week. The Washington governme has moved thousands of troops and dozens of warships, including an aircraft carrier, to the region.
Caracas reacts to Trump’s “ridiculous threat”.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan governme said in a stateme that it rejects Trump’s “ridiculous threat.”
After Trump’s announceme, the price of US crude oil rose more than 1% in Asian trading and reached $55.96 per barrel. Oil prices closed at $55.27 a barrel on Tuesday, the lowest price since February 2021.
Oil market participas said prices were rising in aicipation of a possible cut in Venezuelan exports, although they were still waiting to see how Trump’s blockade would be implemeed and whether it would include non-sanctioned vessels.
Legal challenges to a claim
Meanwhile, Elena Chachko, an iernational law researcher from the Berkeley Law School, said that US presides have broad authority to deploy US troops abroad, but Trump’s alleged blockade is a new test of presideial authority.
Blockades have traditionally been viewed as permissible “tools of war,” Chachko said, but only under strict conditions. He added: “There are serious questions on both fros of domestic law and iernational law.”
In addition, “Joaquin Castro”, the Democratic represeative of Texas in the US House of Represeatives, called this blockade “undoubtedly an act of war”. “A war that Congress has never authorized and the American people do not wa,” Castro added on Platform X.
Restrictions have been imposed after the US seized an embargoed oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week, with loaded vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil remaining in Venezuelan waters rather than risking seizure. Two US officials also claimed that the new policy, if fully implemeed, could have a major impact on Maduro.
Warning again to the planes
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the US Federal Aviation Administration has again warned major airlines of a “deteriorating security situation” when flying over Venezuela and urged them to exercise caution.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the threats could put planes at risk at all altitudes, including when flying over Venezuela, taking off and landing, and when moving on the ground. The warning follows a similar announceme last moh amid an increase in US military presence in the southern Caribbean.
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