WEB DESK: On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump officially classified the Venezuelan government as a “terrorist organization” and implemented a “complete and total” blockade targeting sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country.
Through a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that Venezuela is now surrounded by “the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America.”
He justified this designation by citing various allegations, including asset theft, terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. As part of his statement, he directed a comprehensive blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers associated with Venezuela. Trump emphasized that this action marks the beginning, warning that the blockade will expand further and bring consequences “unlike anything they’ve seen before.”
Venezuela condemned Trump’s announcement, describing it as “grotesque” and asserting that the move violates international law, free trade principles, and maritime navigation. The Venezuelan government labeled the action a serious threat to its sovereignty and deemed the blockade “absolutely irrational,” according to local media outlets.
Per the U.S. State Department, designating an entity as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” prohibits American citizens from knowingly providing material support or resources to such an entity, among other legal consequences.
Industry expert Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates, explained that enforcing a complete embargo on Venezuelan oil would disrupt the flow of approximately 800,000 to 900,000 barrels daily. This could potentially increase global oil prices by an estimated $2 to $3 per barrel.
