WASHINGTON, 18 Dec. - (ANA) - U.S. President Donald Trump announced a blockade of sanctioned oil tanker ships to and from Venezuela in a post on social media Tuesday evening, one week after the U.S. seized an oil tanker allegedly carrying oil to Iran from Venezuela.  

 

“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” Trump declared on the platform he owns. “It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before—Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us,” he said, though it’s far from clear exactly what he was referring to, especially regarding alleged stolen land. 

 

“Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela,” he added. “America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” the president said. 

 

Also unclear is “how many tankers will be affected and how the U.S. will impose the blockade, and whether Trump will turn to the Coast Guard to interdict vessels as he did last week,” Reuters reports.   

 

AB/ANA/18 December 2025 - - -