US President Donald Trump said he was ordering a “total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
In a post on Truth Social, he said the government of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has been designated a foreign terrorist organization and charged with theft of US assets as well as “terrorism, drug smuggling and human trafficking.”
“Therefore, today I am ordering a COMPLETE BLOCKade of ALL OIL TANKERS entering and leaving Venezuela,” he added.
His remarks came a week after the US seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. In a statement, the Venezuelan government said it rejected Trump's “grotesque threat.”
In his post, Trump said Venezuela was “completely surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America.”
He added that it will “only get bigger” and “will be unlike anything they've ever seen.”
Trump also accused Maduro's government of using stolen oil to “finance itself, narco-terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Venezuela of drug smuggling, and since September the US military has killed at least 90 people in strikes on boats it said were carrying fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the US.
The US has also deployed warships to the region in recent months.
Venezuela, home to some of the world's largest proven oil reserves, has in turn accused Washington of seeking to steal its resources.
The US, under both Trump and former President Joe Biden, for years opposed Maduro's government and pushed for its removal by imposing strict sanctions.
Last week, the United States imposed new sanctions on six more ships it said were carrying Venezuelan oil.
Sanctions have also been imposed on some of President Maduro's relatives and businesses linked to what the US has called his illegitimate regime.
A day earlier, the United States announced that it had seized a tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
The White House said the seized ship, called Skipper, was involved in “illegal oil transportation” and would be brought to a US port.
The Venezuelan government condemned the hijacking, with Maduro saying the US “kidnapped the crew” and “stole” the ship.
In the days leading up to the raid, the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean, which borders Venezuela to the north.
Thousands of troops were involved, and the USS Gerald Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, was within striking distance of Venezuela.
Congressman Joaquin Castro, a Democrat who represents Texas, said Trump's “naval blockade is undoubtedly an act of war.”
He added that US lawmakers on Thursday will vote on a resolution “directing the President to end hostilities with Venezuela.”
