US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that his government will keep the Venezuelan oil obtained through acts of theft and aggression in Caribbean waters.
“We’re going to keep it. Maybe we’ll sell it, maybe we’ll use it in the strategic reserves. We’re also keeping the ships,” the president said.
Speaking to the press, Trump indicated that the crude oil shipments transported on private vessels would remain under Washington's control and could be added to the US strategic reserve or sold on the international market.
Furthermore, he reported that he has approved a plan for the Navy to begin construction of two entirely new, large warships, "the largest we have ever built," as some of the existing ones in the U.S. Navy have become obsolete.
On the other hand, when questioned about whether the Venezuelan president should take Washington's threats seriously, Trump stated that his counterpart could do whatever he wanted. "He [Maduro] can do whatever he wants. That's fine, whatever he wants to do. If he wants to do something, if he tries to act tough, it will be the last time he can act tough," he said.
On December 15, Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all “sanctioned oil tankers” entering and leaving Venezuela and reiterated his designation of the Venezuelan government as a “foreign terrorist organization.” In response, President Nicolás Maduro urged leaders in the Latin American region to condemn what he considers a “hijacking and theft” by the United States.
Military operation in the Caribbean
Since last August, the United States has maintained a large naval and air deployment in the Caribbean, initially ostensibly to combat drug trafficking. However, as the months have passed, the official narrative has shifted to one focused on controlling and plundering Venezuelan energy resources.
In recent weeks, US forces have carried out multiple attacks against vessels, resulting in more than 100 deaths, without presenting evidence of links to illicit activities.
International response and complaint at the UN
The Venezuelan government described these actions as acts of piracy and theft, and announced that it will go to the UN Security Council to denounce the US military aggression.
For their part, Russia and China expressed their rejection of any action that infringes on the sovereignty of other countries, while Caracas warned that these operations threaten to destabilize the Caribbean region and the international system as a whole.
Following the theft of the second oil tanker perpetrated by US military forces, China condemned this illegal action. and stated that he opposes all forms of unilateralism and intimidation.
In response to this act of piracy by Washington, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries.
Russia tooCuba and Mexico have expressed their complete rejection of these actions by the Trump administration. Cuban Foreign Minister Yván Gil reported via his Telegram channel that he had spoken with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in which they reviewed the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law being committed in the Caribbean, where the US has carried out attacks against vessels and extrajudicial killings, in addition to recent acts of piracy.
Likewise, Venezuela issued a statement on Saturday categorically condemning the theft and hijacking of a second private vessel carrying Venezuelan oil, as well as the enforced disappearance of its crew, acts attributed to US military personnel in international waters.
The Venezuelan government described the action as a serious act of piracy, noting that it constitutes the commission of the crime stipulated in Article 3 of the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation.
I truly believe this cannot continue. Every time this individual tries to steal a significant amount from Venezuela, including planes, ships, and the Citgo company, the UN does nothing; they are inefficient in enforcing the laws. The theft and threats will continue until they actually invade the country. I wish they would get a taste of their own medicine—an international coalition could steal or sink their ships in the Caribbean, especially their aircraft carrier—and let whatever happens, happen.