US President Donald Trump claimed Venezuela had “illegally” taken American oil and said Washington “wants it back” as he defended a newly announced total blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country. Trump framed the move as an enforcement action. Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López strongly rejected the measure, calling it an act of piracy and denying US accusations that Caracas had stolen oil or was linked to narco-terrorism. He warned the blockade threatens regional stability and global energy security, and urged the international community to respond. The dispute follows months of rising tensions, including US military deployments in the Caribbean that Washington says target drug trafficking, but which Venezuela describes as intimidation aimed at regime change.
E-Paper
