Thu Dec 18 01:31:13 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
President Trump has escalated pressure on Venezuela, demanding the return of assets seized from U.S. oil companies and announcing a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from the country. Trump justifies these actions by citing Venezuela’s nationalization of the oil industry, accusations of drug trafficking, and the need to reclaim lost U.S. investments. The U.S. has seized an oil tanker and conducted strikes against suspected drug boats. The move has drawn criticism and calls for restraint from the UN. Venezuela is calling for condemnation of the USA action in the UN security council. While some actions align with past policy, the situation raises legal and ethical questions about the use of military force.
News Article:
U.S. Imposes Blockade on Venezuelan Oil Tankers, Demands Return of Seized Assets
Washington, D.C. – December 18, 2025 – President Donald Trump has dramatically escalated the U.S. pressure campaign against Venezuela, announcing a blockade of oil tankers traveling to or from the South American nation. The move, he stated, is in response to Venezuela’s nationalization of its oil industry and the alleged illegal seizure of U.S. oil assets.
“We’re not going to be letting anybody going through who shouldn’t be going through,” Trump told reporters Wednesday, referencing the blockade. “They took all of our energy rights. They took all of our oil not that long ago. And we want it back. They took it — they illegally took it.”
The U.S. has already seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast. Trump’s administration has also carried out strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in dozens of fatalities.
The actions draw upon a long history of disputes over Venezuela’s oil industry, nationalized first in the 1970s and expanded under Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. While Venezuela has been ordered by international arbitration to pay compensation to companies like ExxonMobil, Trump argues the issue remains unresolved.
“American sweat, ingenuity and toil created the oil industry in Venezuela,” said Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller in a social media post. “Its tyrannical expropriation was the largest recorded theft of American wealth and property.”
Venezuela has condemned the U.S. actions, with Foreign Minister Yván Gil demanding the immediate release of the “kidnapped crew” and return of the confiscated oil. Maduro himself contacted the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who reaffirmed the UN’s call for member states to respect international law, exercise restraint, and de-escalate tensions.
While some experts point out that seizing sanctioned oil tankers aligns with past U.S. policy, the escalation raises concerns about the legal and ethical implications of military force. Retired Vice Admiral Robert Murrett noted that the current blockade is less risky than direct military intervention.
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