Venezuela Says It Continues Its Oil Operations Despite the U.S. Blockade

Caracas (AFP) - Venezuela stated on Wednesday that the naval blockade imposed by the United States, denounced by President Nicolas Maduro as "a direct threat against sovereignty, international law, and peace," does not affect its oil exports, the country's main resource.

"Crude oil and derivative product export operations are proceeding normally. Tankers continue to navigate safely," assured the national oil company PDVSA.

Intended to hit Caracas in the wallet, the blockade was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has since last summer deployed a significant military presence off the coast of Venezuela.

The United Nations called on Wednesday to "avoid any further escalation."

During a phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, President Maduro "denounced the recent public statements by the President of the United States (...) in which he unacceptably claimed that Venezuelan oil, natural resources, and territory belonged to him," according to a Venezuelan statement.

When announcing the oil blockade, Donald Trump claimed that Venezuela had stolen oil and lands belonging to the United States, without providing evidence for this accusation, which appears linked to the nationalization of the Venezuelan oil industry in the 1970s and the requirement imposed on foreign "majors" operating in the country to work within joint ventures controlled by PDVSA.

Mr. Maduro "emphasized that such statements must be categorically rejected by the United Nations, as they constitute a direct threat against sovereignty, international law, and peace," adds the statement from the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warning of the "serious implications for regional peace."

Embargo

To justify his announcement, which caused oil prices to rise on the markets, Donald Trump also claimed that Venezuela uses oil to finance "narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murders, and kidnappings."

The deployment of U.S. forces, which have bombed vessels in the Caribbean or Pacific in the name of the fight against drug trafficking, killing at least 99 people without ever providing proof of their involvement in any trafficking, "will only increase, and the shock they will suffer will be unprecedented," Trump further warned, maintaining ambiguity about a possible ground intervention in Venezuela.

The United States announced on Wednesday that it had carried out a new strike against a boat it said was linked to drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, causing four deaths.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino stated on Wednesday that the Venezuelan army is "not intimidated" by Trump's "coarse and arrogant threats."

"If they attack Venezuela, not a single drop of oil will be able to leave here for the United States, not even half a drop, under any circumstances," threatened Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

Subject to a U.S. embargo since 2019, Venezuelan oil, the country's main resource, is sold on the black market at below-market prices, notably to China.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil on Wednesday that Beijing opposes any attempt at "unilateral intimidation" and said it supports "every country in defending its own sovereignty and national dignity."

The U.S. blockade is "a clear example of state piracy and armed robbery at sea," the Iranian government said in a statement.

In the United States, Joaquin Castro, a Democratic representative from Texas, denounced the naval blockade on X, calling it "undeniably an act of war."

The Republican-majority House of Representatives is expected to vote on Thursday on a resolution "urging the president to end hostilities," he said.