Tyrant Donald Trump issues stern warning to Venezuela amid increased efforts to intercept oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea.
The 79-year-old US President had initially aimed to halt the flow of illicit drugs from Venezuela, but his approach has escalated in recent weeks. His administration has seized multiple oil tankers near the Venezuelan coastline, with Trump indicating intentions to target additional vessels.
A recent rebuttal from Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s President, seemed to provoke Trump further, leading to heightened tensions. During a break from his Florida vacation, Trump threatened, “If he wants to act tough, it will be his last time doing so.”
Trump delivered this ominous message while in the presence of top national security advisors, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he unveiled plans for a new Navy warship.
The US Coast Guard is actively pursuing another oil tanker, referred to by the Trump administration as part of Venezuela’s “dark fleet” evading US sanctions. The White House asserts that the tanker is operating under false pretenses and is subject to a US court-ordered seizure.
Trump expressed confidence in the operation’s progress, stating, “We will succeed in seizing it,” following the recent capture of the Panama-flagged vessel, Centuries, identified as part of Venezuela’s clandestine fleet.
With US Navy support, the Coast Guard confiscated a sanctioned tanker named Skipper on December 10. This vessel, registered in Panama, is part of the shadow fleet transporting restricted oil in violation of international laws.
Former President Donald Trump previously declared a “blockade” on Venezuela after the initial tanker seizure, emphasizing Maduro’s impending downfall. Trump reiterated the blockade stance, demanding the return of assets seized from US oil companies and justifying the interception of sanctioned tankers to and from Venezuela.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, overseeing the Coast Guard, emphasized that the tanker seizures convey a global message against Maduro’s illicit activities. She affirmed US determination to protect its citizens and emphasized Maduro’s need to step down.