Trump designated Maduro's regime as a terrorist organization and cut off its oil trade

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, ordered a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers that enter or leave Venezuela, in a significant escalation of Washington's pressure against the narco-regime of Nicolás Maduro.

The measure, announced directly by the president, reinforces the White House's strategy to isolate the Venezuelan dictatorship economically and politically, which Trump described as a direct threat to U.S. national security.

In a message released on social media, Trump stated that Venezuela is "completely surrounded by the largest navy ever assembled in the history of South America" and warned that the naval siege will continue to intensify.

According to the president, the objective is to force the Chavista regime to return to the United States "all the oil, land, and other assets that were previously stolen from us," while cutting off the financing of criminal activities.

Trump accused Maduro's government of using Venezuelan oil to sustain operations of narco-terrorism, human trafficking, murders, and kidnappings. In that context, he stated that, due to the theft of U.S. assets and its links to terrorism and drug trafficking, the Venezuelan regime has been designated by his administration as a foreign terrorist organization, a classification that further hardens the legal framework for U.S. actions against Caracas.

"The United States will not allow criminals, terrorists, or other countries to steal from, threaten, or harm our nation," stated the president, emphasizing that Washington will not tolerate a hostile regime seizing U.S. strategic resources.

Trump also highlighted that illegal immigrants and criminals sent to the United States during the previous administration are being returned to Venezuela "at an accelerated pace," as part of a stricter policy of migration control and security.

The decision comes after a recent incident that raised tensions between the two countries. Last week, the United States intercepted and seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

According to reports, the vessel, named Skipper and sailing under an allegedly false Guyanese flag, was seized by order of a U.S. judge due to its previous links to smuggling Iranian oil, which is sanctioned by Washington. On that voyage, the ship was transporting Venezuelan crude, which reinforced the White House's arguments in favor of the blockade.

At the same time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) renewed its warning to commercial airlines about the deterioration of safety when flying over Venezuela and areas of the Caribbean under the Maiquetía flight information region.

The alert, in effect until February 19, 2026, warns of possible threats to aircraft at all altitudes, as well as during takeoffs and landings, and notes risks also for airports and aircraft on the ground.

After an initial warning issued in November, several airlines modified or suspended flights to Venezuela. In that context, Copa Airlines announced the extension of the temporary suspension of its operations to and from Caracas until January 15, citing operational problems at Maiquetía International Airport. Trump, meanwhile, stated that Venezuelan airspace will remain "completely closed."

Meanwhile, allies of Caracas, such as Iran, have denounced what they describe as an "intimidating" attitude by Washington, while the White House keeps that the blockade and the air and naval deployment in the Caribbean are part of a legitimate strategy against drug trafficking and terrorism.

With these measures, the Trump administration seeks to send a forceful message: The United States is determined to neutralize Maduro's regime and to prevent Venezuela from continuing to use its energy resources to sustain criminal activities that destabilize the entire region.