Trump: The United States Wants to Reclaim Its Oil Rights Stolen by Venezuela

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that "the United States seeks to reclaim its oil rights that were illegally taken from it by Venezuela."

Trump said during a conversation with reporters at Andrews Air Force Base: "Land rights, oil rights, everything we own was taken from us because our previous president perhaps did not pay attention to what was happening."

He added: "Don't forget, they seized all our energy rights; they took our oil rights not long ago, and we want to get them back... They took them illegally."

Trump demanded the return of "oil, land, and money" that he claims were stolen and warned that "all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country will be subject to a blockade."

Caracas rejected Washington's claims regarding the country's natural resources and announced its intention to present the case to the United Nations.

On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro held a phone conversation with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres amid "escalating threats" from the United States, which announced a blockade on Venezuelan oil shipments.

Maduro warned that U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign against him carries "serious consequences for regional peace," according to a statement from the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The statement emphasized that Maduro conveyed to Guterres the necessity of international community intervention, holding the Washington administration fully responsible for any deterioration in security or humanitarian conditions in Latin America.

These diplomatic moves come at a time of unprecedented tension between the two countries, as Venezuela views the U.S. oil blockade as an attempt to strangle its vital resources, while the U.S. administration continues to threaten further measures.

Earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Americans are preparing to carry out precise strikes on land targets in Venezuela, claiming that this might begin with electronic operations and satellite communication jamming to deprive Caracas of the ability to use air defense systems.