U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a total blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a move set to sharply escalate tensions between Washington and Caracas, Reuters reported.

The announcement came amid a significant U.S. military presence in the region, including thousands of troops and nearly a dozen warships, among them an aircraft carrier. The administration has not yet clarified how it plans to enforce the blockade, or whether the Coast Guard will intercept vessels as it did last week when a sanctioned tanker was seized.

Trump justified the blockade on Truth Social, citing Venezuela’s designation as a “FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION” and accusing the regime of theft, terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking. “I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela,” he wrote.

Markets reacted immediately, with U.S. crude futures rising over 1 percent to 55.96 US dollars a barrel in Asian trading following Tuesday’s close of 55.27 US dollars, the lowest since February 2021. Analysts noted that an effective embargo was already in place after last week’s tanker seizure, with loaded vessels remaining in Venezuelan waters to avoid U.S. action.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the decision, accusing the U.S. of seeking to seize Venezuela’s oil, gas, gold, and other resources. Speaking Tuesday evening, he said, “We have sworn absolutely to defend our homeland and in Venezuela peace will triumph.”

Trump’s military campaign has included more than two dozen strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific near Venezuela, reportedly killing at least ninety people. The president has also indicated that land strikes could soon follow. Maduro has maintained that these actions aim to overthrow his government and control the country’s vast crude reserves.