Secretary of State Marco Rubio was asked about the potential U.S. governance of Venezuela after President Nicolás Maduro’s capture. Rubio redirected the conversation to the enforcement of a U.S. blockade on sanctioned oil tankers. This blockade, initiated by President Donald Trump in December, is intended to apply pressure for policy changes in Venezuela. Trump referred to this blockade when discussing Venezuela’s management, as stated by Rubio on CBS News’ Face the Nation.
The blockade was announced by Trump on December 16 through his social media platform, Truth Social. Trump declared a comprehensive blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela. This action was a response to the regime being labeled a “foreign terrorist organization” for various illicit activities, including the theft of U.S. assets. The sanctioned vessels are listed by the U.S. Treasury Department and are part of a clandestine group of tankers engaged in transporting crude oil into global supply chains through deceptive practices.
While Trump labeled the action a blockade, some officials, like Rubio, prefer to call it a “quarantine” targeting unlawful activities rather than an act of war. The legal basis for boarding and seizing stateless or dually-claimed ships exists, according to Emory University law professor Mark Nevitt. However, the blockade’s legitimacy is questioned by Nevitt, who views it as a pseudo-blockade operating selectively under wartime pretenses.
As of now, two vessels have been intercepted, with more planned, including the Marinera. Despite the blockade, some 16 oil tankers under U.S. sanctions have evaded interception by concealing their locations or disabling transmission signals. This evasion poses a challenge to the blockade’s efficacy in preventing sanctioned vessels from operating.
The blockade’s impact on Venezuela’s economy is already evident, with the state-owned oil company PDVSA’s exports coming to a standstill due to the restrictions. This halt could lead to production cuts and have a substantial economic effect on Venezuela, potentially shutting down a significant portion of the country’s oil production.
