President Trump declared the Venezuelan regime a foreign terrorist organization and ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country, sharply escalating U.S. pressure on the government of Nicolás Maduro. The move targets Venezuela’s primary source of revenue and is intended to cut off funding tied to terrorism, drug trafficking, and organized crime, according to the White House.
The designation marks a significant expansion of U.S. authority against the Maduro regime. By labeling Venezuela’s ruling government a foreign terrorist organization, the administration broadens the legal and financial tools available to federal agencies, potentially exposing individuals, companies, and foreign governments that assist the regime to terrorism-related penalties under U.S. law.
The oil tanker blockade applies to all vessels already under U.S. sanctions and follows recent enforcement actions in the Caribbean, including the seizure of a sanctioned tanker linked to Venezuelan oil exports. U.S. officials say oil revenues have long propped up Maduro’s grip on power while fueling corruption, repression, and destabilizing activity throughout the region.
Maduro’s government condemned the announcement, calling it an act of aggression and a violation of international law. Critics in Washington and abroad have also raised questions about whether a naval-style blockade requires additional congressional authorization. Supporters of the move argue the regime’s ties to criminal networks justify decisive action and sustained economic pressure.
The administration has framed the decision as part of a broader national security strategy to counter hostile regimes in the Western Hemisphere. Officials say the goal is to isolate Maduro diplomatically and financially while signaling that continued defiance of U.S. sanctions will carry severe consequences.
The order directs federal agencies to immediately coordinate enforcement and compliance.
