Trump has ordered the total blockade of oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela
The US president has stressed that "Maduro's illegitimate regime is using stolen oil to finance drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping, among others."
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the "total blockade of all oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela" to increase Washington's pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government.
Trump has claimed that Venezuela "is surrounded by the largest army ever in the history of South America," and that the impression will be unprecedented until the United States "returns all the oil, land, and other assets previously stolen."
In this way, the Republican has announced a "total blockade" on oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in a significant escalation of the military operation launched in international Caribbean waters.
In his message, the president added that "Maduro's illegitimate regime is using stolen oil to finance drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping."
Following the president's order, it is not clear how many oil tankers it will affect, nor what consequences this measure will have for the Venezuelan oil industry.
Last week, the South American Command (a group that since August has attacked more than 30 boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the East Pacific) made a change in its international water strategy by confiscating the Skipper tanker, which was transporting Venezuelan crude oil near the coast of the South American country, and was intercepted by US forces in the Caribbean by court order.
Washington sanctioned the ship for its connection to a "shadow fleet" of crude oil transport and was taken to a U.S. port to begin a process of confiscation of cargo.
Pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has escalated and even tightened relations between the two countries, as well as a decline in the embargo on Venezuelan oil and the threat of further confiscation of oil tankers in neighbouring waters.
You might like
Brussels has opened an investigation against Shein for alleged "addictive" design and illegal sale of products
The European Commission considers that the Chinese platform does not comply with European regulations because it is not transparent with its systems of recommendations and allows the marketing of illegal articles, including material for the sexual abuse of children.
Epstein's papers could be considered crimes against humanity, the UN said
The rapporteurs who have examined the case claim that we are dealing with a criminal enterprise acting with complete impunity. Sexe-slavery, enforced disappearance, torture or feminicide.
How will Israel operate the land register in the West Bank?
Since the same process began in East Jerusalem, only 1% of the affected land has been registered on behalf of the Palestinians.
Rubio said the US does not want Europe to be a vassal, but "a strong ally."
On the other hand, the European Secretary-General for Foreign and Security Affairs, Kaja Kallas, has responded to criticism from the Trump administration in recent months. "Although some say otherwise, fallen Europe is not a dying civilization," he said, adding that more and more people want to join "Europe's club."
The murder of a young man close to the far right has disrupted the political atmosphere in France
Quentin, a 23-year-old Catholic math student who died on Saturday as a result of the blows he received and after two days in a coma, is being investigated by the Lyon Public Prosecutor's Office.
Israel has registered vast areas of the West Bank as part of the state for the first time since 1967
The Palestinian National Authority has denounced the decision as de facto annexation of most of the Palestinian territory.
Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands accuse Russia of killing opposition leader Navalni with a toxin
The poison, originally produced by an Ecuadorian frog, is not "naturally" present in Russia. Von der Leyen denounces the "terrorist" behaviour of the Russian state.
Rubio wants to bring relations between the United States and Europe closer together, but the old continent wants to promote independence
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised relations with Europe at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday and relieved the tone of the harsh speech delivered a year ago by the country's Vice-President, J.D. Vance.
Zelenski says splitting Ukraine will bring no real peace
Ukraine's president has been willing to do everything possible to ensure the success of the US-led peace negotiations, including the immediate call for elections if a two-month ceasefire is guaranteed.
Merz calls for strengthening Europe and reconnecting the relationship with the US at a time of great powers
The German Chancellor has called for Europeans atthe opening ceremony of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), an important meeting that brings together 200 heads of state, government and ministers from A0120 countries.