Editing Openai/69422be7-d6e0-8008-aef1-a42491fae402 (section)

=== Assistant: Here’s the latest verified information about the reported U.S. ===
Here’s the latest verified information about the reported U.S. action regarding Venezuela and an oil blockade:

Latest on Trump’s Venezuela Oil BlockadeAl JazeeraTrump orders naval blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil ...2 days ago<ref>{{cite web|title=Al JazeeraTrump orders naval blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil ...2 days ago|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/17/trump-orders-total-blockade-of-sanctioned-venezuelan-oil-tankers|publisher=Al JazeeraTrump orders naval blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil ...2 days ago|date=2025-12-17|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>ReutersTrump orders 'blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers leaving, entering Venezuela2 days ago<ref>{{cite web|title=ReutersTrump orders 'blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers leaving, entering Venezuela2 days ago|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-orders-blockade-sanctioned-oil-tankers-leaving-entering-venezuela-2025-12-16/|publisher=ReutersTrump orders 'blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers leaving, entering Venezuela2 days ago|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>AP NewsTrump orders blockade of oil tankers into Venezuela2 days ago<ref>{{cite web|title=AP NewsTrump orders blockade of oil tankers into Venezuela2 days ago|url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-maduro-oil-tankers-625a7c9a3106e316c97ceb68a42a1cb5|publisher=AP NewsTrump orders blockade of oil tankers into Venezuela2 days ago|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>Fox NewsTrump declares 'Venezuelan regime' a foreign terrorist organization, orders oil tanker blockade<ref>{{cite web|title=Fox NewsTrump declares 'Venezuelan regime' a foreign terrorist organization, orders oil tanker blockade|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-declares-venezuelan-regime-foreign-terrorist-organization-orders-oil-tanker-blockade|publisher=Fox NewsTrump declares 'Venezuelan regime' a foreign terrorist organization, orders oil tanker blockade|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>The GuardianTrump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela2 days ago<ref>{{cite web|title=The GuardianTrump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela2 days ago|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/16/trump-orders-blockade-oil-tankers-venezuela|publisher=The GuardianTrump orders blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela2 days ago|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>DIE WELTTrump kündigt Öltanker-Blockade gegen Venezuela an2 days ago<ref>{{cite web|title=DIE WELTTrump kündigt Öltanker-Blockade gegen Venezuela an2 days ago|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/ausland/article6941f15011416590a630d78c/gegen-maduro-trump-kuendigt-oeltanker-blockade-gegen-venezuela-an.html|publisher=DIE WELTTrump kündigt Öltanker-Blockade gegen Venezuela an2 days ago|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>
===== President Donald Trump has ordered what he described as a “total and complete blockade” of all ''sanctioned oil tankers'' entering or leaving Venezuela. This was announced via a Truth Social post and confirmed by multiple news outlets. Al Jazeera<ref>{{cite web|title=Al Jazeera|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/17/trump-orders-total-blockade-of-sanctioned-venezuelan-oil-tankers|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=2025-12-17|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref> =====

Trump also designated Venezuela’s government or elements of it as a “foreign terrorist organization” and accused it of using oil revenue to support drug trafficking, terrorism, and other crimes. Axios<ref>{{cite web|title=Axios|url=https://www.axios.com/2025/12/17/trump-venezuela-oil-blockade-maduro-regime-terrorist-designation|publisher=axios.com|date=2025-12-17|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>

According to reports:
* The blockade specifically targets “sanctioned” oil tankers, not all maritime traffic. AP News<ref>{{cite web|title=AP News|url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-maduro-oil-tankers-625a7c9a3106e316c97ceb68a42a1cb5|publisher=AP News|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>
* U.S. officials are claiming this is part of pressure on Nicolás Maduro and his government. Fox News<ref>{{cite web|title=Fox News|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-declares-venezuelan-regime-foreign-terrorist-organization-orders-oil-tanker-blockade|publisher=Fox News|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>
* The measure comes amid an increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean region, including warships and other assets. Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-orders-blockade-sanctioned-oil-tankers-leaving-entering-venezuela-2025-12-16/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>

===== - Whether this constitutes a formal legal naval blockade under international law. Some reports note it would be unprecedented and controversial. wdbj7.com<ref>{{cite web|title=wdbj7.com|url=https://www.wdbj7.com/2025/12/17/trump-orders-blockade-sanctioned-oil-tankers-into-venezuela-ramping-up-pressure-maduro/|publisher=wdbj7.com|date=2025-12-17|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref> =====
* How the blockade will be enforced—the U.S. has deployed military assets in the region, but there’s no publicly available, detailed plan. Wikipedia<ref>{{cite web|title=Wikipedia|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_United_States_naval_deployment_in_the_Caribbean|publisher=en.wikipedia.org|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>
* Whether Congress has authorized such military action—critics are already calling it potentially an “act of war” without congressional approval. wdbj7.com<ref>{{cite web|title=wdbj7.com|url=https://www.wdbj7.com/2025/12/17/trump-orders-blockade-sanctioned-oil-tankers-into-venezuela-ramping-up-pressure-maduro/|publisher=wdbj7.com|date=2025-12-17|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>

===== The U.S. has previously seized a sanctioned Venezuelan oil tanker near Venezuelan waters, signaling growing tensions and an aggressive posture. Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-seized-tanker-near-venezuela-just-warrant-was-set-expire-court-document-shows-2025-12-13/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref> =====

===== - Venezuela’s government has condemned the move, calling it a violation of international law and a “reckless threat.” wdbj7.com<ref>{{cite web|title=wdbj7.com|url=https://www.wdbj7.com/2025/12/17/trump-orders-blockade-sanctioned-oil-tankers-into-venezuela-ramping-up-pressure-maduro/|publisher=wdbj7.com|date=2025-12-17|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref> =====
* Oil markets responded with higher crude prices on concerns about supply disruptions. icis.com<ref>{{cite web|title=icis.com|url=https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2025/12/17/11165140/us-crude-climbs-as-trump-orders-oil-tanker-blockade-on-venezuela|publisher=icis.com|date=2025-12-17|access-date=2025-12-19}}</ref>

If you want, I can summarize reactions from the international community or explain what a naval blockade means under international law.