Donald Trump has asserted that the United States will keep or sell the crude oil contained on tankers seized from Venezuela, escalating tensions between the two nations.
Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump stated, we're going to keep it...maybe we will sell it, maybe we will keep it. Maybe we'll use it in the Strategic Reserves. We're keeping the ships also. His comments come as U.S. efforts to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro intensify amid accusations of his government's ties to drug-related crime.
Recently, the U.S. military has seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela's illicit oil operations, including one just days ago. The Trump administration contends these efforts are necessary to disrupt Maduro's funding sources, while Venezuela has likened the seizures to acts of piracy.
When questioned about the objective of these seizures, Trump suggested that they could serve as leverage to encourage Maduro's departure, saying, It'd be smart for him to [step down]. But again, we're gonna find out. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard is actively pursuing a third tanker, reportedly linked to a network circumventing U.S. sanctions.
In response to ongoing U.S. military actions, including attacks on suspected drug trafficking vessels, Maduro criticized Trump's focus on Venezuelan affairs and called for the U.N. Security Council to address what he claims is ongoing U.S. aggression. He emphasized that Trump should concentrate on domestic challenges in the U.S.
As tensions rise, the U.S. has fortified its military presence in both the Caribbean and Pacific regions and is set to commence land operations targeting traffickers as well.
