Tehran - BORNA - In a provocative move on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced via his "Truth Social" platform that Venezuela is now "completely surrounded by the largest naval fleet ever assembled in the history of South America."
Fueling tensions in the Caribbean, Trump leveled several accusations against Caracas, stating: "This fleet will grow even larger, and the shock they receive will be something they haven't seen before... until they return to the United States all the oil, land, and other assets they previously stole from us."
He added that "due to the theft of our assets and many other reasons including terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, the Venezuelan regime has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization." The U.S. President also announced a "complete and total blockade" of all sanctioned tankers operating in Venezuelan waters.
According to Reuters, the U.S. has already deployed thousands of troops and dozens of warships—including an aircraft carrier—to the region. However, it remains unclear how the administration intends to enforce the blockade or if it will resort to Coast Guard intervention to physically prevent vessel movement, as seen last week.
Caracas Reacts to Trump’s "Ridiculous Threat"
The Venezuelan government responded swiftly, issuing a statement rejecting what it called Trump's "ridiculous threat." Caracas strongly condemned the order for a "total blockade," accusing Washington of violating international law and escalating a dangerous confrontation in the Caribbean.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stated that Trump's actions constitute "reckless and serious threats" that violate the principles of free trade and freedom of navigation. She described the decision as a blatant attempt to suffocate the Venezuelan economy and seize its natural resources.
Market Impact and Legal Challenges
Following the announcement, U.S. crude oil prices rose by more than 1% in Asian trading, reaching $55.96 per barrel. This followed a close on Tuesday at $55.27, the lowest price since February 2021. Market analysts noted that prices are rising in anticipation of a potential drop in Venezuelan exports, though they await clarity on how the blockade will be enforced.
Legal experts have raised concerns over the move. Elena Chachko, an international law scholar at Berkeley Law, noted that while U.S. presidents have broad authority to deploy forces abroad, a blockade is traditionally considered an "instrument of war" permissible only under strict conditions. "There are serious questions on both the domestic and international law fronts," she said.
U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX) echoed these concerns, calling the blockade "undeniably an act of war—a war that Congress never authorized and the American people do not want."
Aviation Warnings
In a related development, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reissued a warning to major airlines regarding the "deteriorating security situation" when flying over Venezuela. The FAA warned that threats could endanger aircraft at all altitudes, including during takeoff, landing, and taxiing. This warning follows increased U.S. military presence in the Southern Caribbean.
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