Maduro: Trump's Decision to Block Venezuelan Oil Tankers is a Colonial Attempt
Maduro accuses Trump of blockading Venezuelan oil tankers as a colonial attempt and affirms continuation of oil trade despite threats.
SUMMARY
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro described Trump's decision to blockade Venezuelan oil tankers as a colonial attempt aimed at regime change and imposing a client government. Maduro confirmed his country's continuation of oil trade despite U.S. threats, while tensions escalated between the two nations amid U.S. military moves and Venezuelan preparations to face any potential attack.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Maduro accuses Trump of attempting to colonize Venezuela through the blockade of oil tankers.
- Trump threatens to recover American energy and oil rights from Venezuela.
- Military tensions escalate between the United States and Venezuela.
- Maduro announces mobilization of 4.5 million people in preparation for any potential attack.
CORE SUBJECT
Tensions between Venezuela and the United States over oil tanker blockade and military threats
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said that U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to blockade all sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers is a colonial attempt. This statement was made in a speech delivered on Wednesday evening at the Miraflores Presidential Palace in the capital, Caracas. He added, "The true intention has been revealed, which is to change the regime in order to impose a client government that abandons sovereignty and turns Venezuela into a colony." Maduro reiterated that the vast majority of the American people oppose any potential intervention in Venezuela. He affirmed that his country will continue its oil trade despite all of Trump's threats, saying, "This is not the time for pirates. Venezuela will continue trading all its products, and our oil and natural resources, which belong to our people, will keep being traded." On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Venezuela had illegally seized American energy and oil rights, threatening to recover them. On Tuesday, Trump announced that he had ordered a blockade on all sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers. Earlier, on December 11, Trump announced that they had seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela "for a good reason" and that they would keep it. Trump had previously stated that his country might carry out ground attacks against Venezuela, and that these attacks would begin "soon." In response, Venezuelan officials described the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off their coast as "blatant theft" and confirmed they would take the matter to international authorities. Tensions have recently escalated between the United States and Venezuela, with Trump issuing an executive order last August to increase military use under the pretext of "combating drug cartels" in Latin America. In this context, Washington announced sending warships and a submarine off the coast of Venezuela, while U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the military is ready for operations, including regime change in Venezuela. In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced mobilizing forces totaling 4.5 million people in Venezuela and preparing to repel any potential attack. The U.S. military attacks on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, alleging drug trafficking and directly targeting people on board, have sparked controversy over "extrajudicial killings" in the international community.
KEYWORDS
MENTIONED ENTITIES 6
Nicolás Maduro
👤 Person_MaleVenezuelan President
Donald Trump
👤 Person_MaleFormer U.S. President
Venezuela
📍 Location_CountryCountry in South America
United States
📍 Location_CountryCountry in North America
Pete Hegseth
👤 Person_MaleU.S. Secretary of Defense
Miraflores Palace
📍 Location_CityPresidential residence in Caracas
NOTABLE QUOTES 2
"The true intention has been revealed, which is to change the regime in order to impose a client government that abandons sovereignty and turns Venezuela into a colony."
Context: Speech delivered at Miraflores Palace
"This is not the time for pirates. Venezuela will continue trading all its products, and our oil and natural resources, which belong to our people, will keep being traded."
Context: Speech delivered at Miraflores Palace
KEY DECISIONS 1
Imposed blockade on all sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers
FACTUAL CLAIMS 2
Venezuela illegally seized American energy and oil rights
The United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela for a good reason