(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump said Venezuela is “completely surrounded by the largest armada” in South American history — one that Trump threatens will only get bigger until the return of oil, land and other assets he claims belong to the United States.
Trump also announced a blockade of all tankers carrying “sanctioned” oil and said he has designated the Nicolás Maduro-led Venezuelan regime as a foreign terrorist organization, marking three major moves in an escalating standoff.
“The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping,” Trump wrote on social media.
Venezuela’s government released a statement Tuesday accusing Trump of “violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation” in response.
The U.S. has sent more than 10 warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, drones and at least 15,000 troops to the region since the summer with a goal of stopping alleged drug trafficking boats.
Since the administration’s “Operation Southern Spear” campaign began in September, 25 strikes on suspected boats have left at least 95 people dead.
Land strikes are a potential next step, with Trump teasing in recent weeks that they could come “very soon.” Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed concern about military action inside Venezuela, especially if it were to culminate in a U.S.-involved regime change in the South American country.
The latest escalation comes after months of intermittent strikes on boats, including a contested follow-up strike on survivors of a Sept. 2 attack.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he won’t release an unedited video of that attack, which some say may have violated international law, following congressional briefings on the administration’s operations off Venezuela’s coast.