Over the weekend, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about potential U.S. intervention in Venezuela post the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Instead of discussing governance, Rubio highlighted the enforcement of a U.S. blockade on sanctioned oil tankers as a strategic lever for policy changes in Venezuela. President Trump has emphasized this blockade as a key aspect in discussions about the management of Venezuela, as per Rubio’s remarks on CBS News’ Face the Nation.
The blockade, announced by Trump in December, aims to pressure Venezuela for policy reforms. Trump’s social media post declared a comprehensive blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, citing the regime’s designation as a “foreign terrorist organization” due to various offenses including asset theft, terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. The sanctioned tankers, listed by the U.S. Treasury Department, are part of an illicit “shadow fleet” that clandestinely transports crude oil globally by manipulating identification systems.
While Trump termed it a “blockade,” officials like Rubio refer to it as a “quarantine” targeting illicit activities to avoid war implications under international law. Legal experts suggest that vessels without proper flags or falsely flying flags are subject to search and seizure. Despite criticisms of the blockade’s legality, the U.S. has intercepted two vessels, with plans to seize more, impacting Venezuela’s oil revenue significantly.
Reports indicate that some tankers have evaded the blockade by concealing their locations or switching off transmission signals. This evasion poses challenges to the effectiveness of the blockade, potentially allowing sanctioned vessels to continue operations. The economic impact on Venezuela is already visible, with a sharp decline in oil exports, risking substantial production cuts and revenue losses if the blockade persists.
The blockade’s repercussions could lead to a severe economic crisis in Venezuela, with projections suggesting a substantial reduction in oil production if the blockade continues.