U.S. President Donald Trump is intensifying pressure on Venezuela, a move characterized by the interception and seizure of oil tankers, threats to retain or sell seized Venezuelan oil, and expanded military deployments in the Caribbean. Trump has publicly indicated that it would be a ‘smart’ decision for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to resign. The U.S. justifies these actions as part of sanction enforcement, counter-narcotics operations, and alleged connections between the Venezuelan state and drug trafficking networks. The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy have been authorized to pursue vessels linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil, disrupting oil exports as tankers turn back or reroute. The Trump administration has also signaled that oil seizures could generate revenue for the U.S. In response, the Venezuelan National Assembly has passed legislation criminalizing foreign tanker seizures and blockades, labeling U.S. actions as ‘piracy’ and violations of international law.
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