The Coast Guard and Pentagon referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela,” Trump said on Tuesday. Trump's administration has sanctioned Venezuelan oil with blockades, while many US Navy units are deployed off the coast of Venezuela under the premise of combating the drug cartels. AdvertisementSince the first seizure, Venezuelan crude exports have fallen sharply. China is the biggest buyer of Venezuelan crude, which accounts for roughly 4% of its imports, with shipments in December on track to average more than 600,000 barrels per day, analysts have said.

Source: Huffington Post December 20, 2025 18:01 UTC