The United States increased its pressure on Venezuela on the 11th, announcing another wave of new sanctions, this time targeting three nephews of Venezuelan President Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and their associated shipping companies.
This comes at a time when the US is amassing significant military forces in the southern Caribbean Sea and President Trump is pushing for Maduro's ouster. White House Press Secretary Levitt said on the 11th that the oil tanker seized by the US the previous day near Venezuelan waters would be brought to a US port and that the US is prepared to confiscate the oil onboard.
●Maduro: Will Pursue Legal and Diplomatic Channels
On the 11th, Maduro stated that the country would resort to corresponding legal and diplomatic avenues to ensure the oil can be sold around the world.
In a televised speech broadcast on Venezuelan National Television, Maduro said that on the 10th, the US government used military force to seize an oil tanker, committing an “absolutely criminal and illegal act” akin to piracy. The tanker was stopped by US military forces just north of Trinidad and Tobago as it was about to enter the Atlantic, not off the Venezuelan coast. The vessel was carrying over 1.9 million barrels of oil, and the whereabouts of the crew are currently unknown.
In a dramatic raid, Washington took control of the tanker, with US forces rappelling onto the ship from a helicopter. Homeland Security Secretary Noem stated that the operation targeted Maduro's "regime."
The Trump administration has been continuously ramping up pressure on Venezuela for several months, conducting large-scale naval deployments to the area and launching attacks on vessels suspected of drug trafficking, which have already caused nearly 90 deaths.