United States President Donald Trump declared that he has designated the Venezuelan government a foreign terrorist organization and ordered "a total and complete" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela on Tuesday.
"For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela."
Trump's comments came a week after the US seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, the latest step in a pressure campaign on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom Trump has blamed for drugs entering the US.
The Venezuelan communications ministry, which handles all press requests for the government, did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.
'Peace will triumph,' says Maduro
Maduro, speaking at an event on Tuesday evening before Trump's post, said, "Imperialism and the fascist right want to colonize Venezuela to take over its wealth of oil, gas, gold, among other minerals. We have sworn absolutely to defend our homeland, and in Venezuela, peace will triumph."
Trump's campaign has included a ramped-up military presence in the region and more than two dozen military strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, which have killed at least 90 people.
Trump has also said that US land strikes on the South American country will soon start.