Trump orders blockade of 'sanctioned' Venezuela tankers

US President Donald Trump has announced a blockade of "sanctioned oil vessels" heading to and leaving Venezuela, sharply escalating his pressure campaign against Caracas while issuing new demands for access to the country's crude.

The United States has for months been building a major military deployment in the Caribbean - with the stated goal of combatting Latin American drug trafficking, but taking particular aim at Venezuela.

Venezuela views the operation as a campaign to push out leftist strongman Nicolas Maduro -- whom the US and many nations view as an illegitimate president.

Tensions have been mounting for weeks as Mr Trump signals intent to launch military action inside Venezuela, ominously declaring that the country's airspace should be considered "closed" and that efforts at halting drug trafficking "on land" would begin soon.

Last week, the United States opened a new front in the campaign, seizing an oil tanker that had left Venezuela and announcing sanctions on several other vessels and companies associated with the Venezuelan oil industry.

"Today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela," Mr Trump wrote yesterday evening on his Truth Social platform.

Referring to the many Navy and Marine forces assembled in the Caribbean - including the world's largest aircraft carrier - Mr Trump warned "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America."

'Stolen' oil

With Venezuela's economy heavily reliant on crude exports, the move to cripple its oil sector is likely to further ramp up pressure on Mr Maduro.

However, Mr Trump pointed to another goal - regaining US access to Venezuelan oil production.

The US armada "will only get bigger," Mr Trump said, until Venezuela returns "to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."

He did not specify what oil or land he was referring to, but Venezuela in the 1970s nationalized its oil industry.

Later, under Mr Maduro's predecessor Hugo Chavez, companies were forced to cede majority control to the Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA.

A spokesperson for US company Chevron, which still operates in Venezuela under a special sanctions waiver, said that its operations "continue without disruption and in full compliance with laws and regulations applicable to its business."

Venezuela blasted Mr Trump's announcement, saying he aimed at "stealing the riches that belong to our homeland."

'Terrorist' regime

The Pentagon has defended its operation, dubbed "Southern Spear," by arguing it is targeting drug cartels designated under the Trump administration as foreign terrorist organisations.

The US military has thus far only struck boats in international waters it claims are trafficking drugs, killing at least 95 people, in what many experts say amount to extrajudicial killings.

However, Mr Trump's administration has also given terrorist designation to an alleged Venezuelan group, the Cartel de los Soles - and claims that Mr Maduro is its leader.