President Donald Trump said that Venezuela is now surrounded by an American armada that will prevent all oil ships from entering or leaving the South American nation. He additionally designated the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro a terrorist organization. 

“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before,” the President wrote on Truth Social. “Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela.”

Trump said the blockade will remain in place “until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.”

Last week, the US seized a Venezuelan oil tanker and placed sanctions on six additional vessels. The economic war on the South American nation appears to be an effort to remove Maduro from power. 

In his post, Trump said the US was designating the Venezuelan government as a foreign terrorist organization. “For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.” 

Since returning to the office, Trump has adopted an aggressive policy towards Venezuela. He has demanded that Maduro leave office. However, the Venezuelan government has said it is willing to sell oil and other resources to American companies. Additionally, Venezuelans have accepted deportation flights from the US, even after Trump closed the country’s airspace. 

The US has carried out a massive military buildup in the Caribbean and conducted multiple mock bombing runs aimed at Venezuela.