#VenezuelaToday: U.S. Monitors 18 Sanctioned Oil Tankers; Russia Foresees "Unpredictable" Consequences

The new escalation by the United States, supported by a massive deployment of the Navy, exerts unprecedented pressure on the Venezuelan government.

Now, Washington is tightening the noose even further by threatening the ruin of the country's economy, which is already in crisis.

After President Donald Trump declared the Maduro Administration a "terrorist organization" and ordered a "total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela," the U.S. news outlet highlighted that at least 18 crude oil-laden ships in the waters of the Latin American nation are under the watch of the U.S., which plans to "seize them as soon as they enter international waters."

According to Washington, these are ships under U.S. sanctions. Although the Trump Administration has not specified the reasons, the tanker seized last week was previously linked to smuggling Iranian oil.

The superpower plans to extend sanctions to vessels, including them on the Government's "Specially Designated Nationals" (SDN) list, something it also began doing last week.

Worldwide, around 712 ships are on that list, and nearly 40 are now in Venezuelan waters, including the 18 loaded with crude from the Latin American country, according to Samir Madani, co-founder of the company Tanker Trackers, which monitors global maritime transport, who told 'Axios'.

Also read: "Venezuela is completely surrounded": Trump orders blockade of oil tankers

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, cited by the state news agency TASS, stated this Wednesday, December 17, that the tensions around Caracas could have "unpredictable" consequences for the entire West.

This statement comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin, one of Venezuela's main allies, expressed his support for Maduro in a phone call on December 11. He did so just after the seizure of the Skipper ship carrying oil from the Venezuelan state company PDVSA, the first move by the Trump Administration in this regard, further escalating tensions with Caracas.

Trump, who began his offensive in the Caribbean by justifying a fight against drugs, is now moving to actions against Venezuelan oil.

This time, Trump not only warns that he will target more oil tankers from the Latin American nation but also suggested, without evidence, that Venezuela has taken oil and resources from the U.S.

"Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Navy ever assembled in the history of South America (...) This will only worsen, and the shock it will cause them will be like never before, until they return to the United States all the oil, lands, and other assets they previously stole from us," asserted the White House leader on his social media.

The Maduro government responded with a statement accusing Trump of "violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation" with a "reckless and serious threat" against the country.

"The President of the United States intends to impose, in a totally irrational manner, an alleged naval blockade on Venezuela with the objective of stealing the wealth that belongs to our nation," Caracas emphasized.

Also read: Washington-Caracas tension: what we know about the tanker intercepted off Venezuelan coasts

With Reuters, AP, and local media