Trump has designated the Venezuelan government as a “foreign terrorist organization.”

According to Isna, US President 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; “Until 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 president 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 prevent the ships from entering, as he did last week. The Washington government 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 government said in a statement that it rejects Trump’s “ridiculous threat.”

After Trump’s announcement, 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 participants said prices were rising in anticipation of a possible cut in Venezuelan exports, although they were still waiting to see how Trump’s blockade would be implemented and whether it would include non-sanctioned vessels.

Legal challenges to a claim

Meanwhile, Elena Chachko, an international law researcher from the Berkeley Law School, said that US presidents have broad authority to deploy US troops abroad, but Trump’s alleged blockade is a new test of presidential 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 fronts of domestic law and international law.”

In addition, “Joaquin Castro”, the Democratic representative of Texas in the US House of Representatives, called this blockade “undoubtedly an act of war”. “A war that Congress has never authorized and the American people do not want,” 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 implemented, 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 announcement last month amid an increase in US military presence in the southern Caribbean.

end of message