President Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States will officially designate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime as a foreign terrorist organization and impose a full blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela.
Designation of Maduro Regime as Terrorist Organization
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that his administration is labeling Maduro’s regime as a foreign terrorist organization for the “theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking.”
The designation signals a significant escalation in U.S. policy toward Venezuela, framing the Maduro government as a direct threat to American interests.
It also aligns with recent sanctions imposed on Maduro family members and Venezuelan businesses.
The move follows a week after the U.S. seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
Blockade of Oil Tankers
Trump posted: “total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela.”
The blockade is intended to prevent the movement of “sanctioned oil” from Venezuela and Iran.
The U.S. administration has said it intends to keep the oil that was on board the seized tanker.
The order represents a direct attempt to cut off Venezuela’s revenue streams.
Military Presence in the Caribbean
The Pentagon has positioned the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and its carrier air wing in the Caribbean.
Two B-1 Lancer bombers departed from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas in October and flew near the coast of Venezuela, according to flight-tracking data.
These deployments underscore the administration’s intent to maintain a robust military posture in the region.
They also raise concerns about the possibility of a military conflict with Venezuela.
Targeted Strikes on Drug-Carrying Boats
For months the administration has carried out military strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats in the Caribbean.
These operations, and the dozens of deaths they’ve caused, have come under congressional scrutiny.
Trump has threatened to carry out land strikes within Venezuela, though he has yet to follow through.
The strikes are presented as part of a broader campaign to stop the flow of drugs.
White House Commentary
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair in an interview published Tuesday that the president’s plan is to “keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.”
She added that “people way smarter than me say that he will.”
Wiles’ comments illustrate the administration’s aggressive stance toward the Maduro regime.
They also reflect the rhetoric that has been used to justify increased military activity.
The Venezuelan Response
Venezuela’s government has not yet issued a formal response to the U.S. designation.
The Maduro regime has historically been accused of using oil revenues to fund illicit activities.
Trump’s post claimed that the regime is “using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping.”
These allegations, if proven, would further justify the U.S. sanctions.
International Reactions
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Key Takeaways
- Trump has designated Maduro’s regime as a foreign terrorist organization.
- The U.S. will block all sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela.
- Military assets, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, have been positioned in the Caribbean.
- The administration has carried out strikes on drug-carrying boats in the region.
- White House staff emphasize relentless pressure on Maduro.
The announcement marks a sharp escalation in U.S. policy toward Venezuela, potentially altering the balance of power in the region and intensifying existing tensions.
