Donald Trump has ordered "a total and complete blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers going in and out of Venezuela. This increases pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Recently, the US military has increased its presence around Venezuela. They have carried out over 20 strikes on boats near Venezuelan waters, killing at least 95 people. Last week, US forces seized a tanker off Venezuela’s coast carrying about 2 million barrels of heavy crude oil, as reported by the New York Times. Venezuela called the seizure "an act of international piracy" and accused the US of "blatant theft," worsening tensions between the two countries. On social media, Trump said Venezuela uses oil to fund drug trafficking and other crimes. He warned the US military build-up would grow, stating, "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America." Trump announced on Truth Social, "I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela." How exactly the blockade will be enforced is unclear. The US has deployed thousands of troops and nearly a dozen warships, including an aircraft carrier, to the area. Maduro responded before Trump’s tweet, saying, "Imperialism and the fascist right want to colonize Venezuela to take over its wealth of oil, gas, gold, among other minerals." He assured, "We have sworn absolutely to defend our homeland and in Venezuela peace will triumph." Oil prices rose on fears Venezuelan exports would fall further. A cyberattack on Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA also recently hit its systems. While many tankers are sanctioned, some vessels linked to companies like Chevron are not. Currently, the global oil supply remains steady due to large reserves off China's coast. If the blockade lasts, it could cut nearly a million barrels per day, pushing prices higher. The US campaign aims to stop drugs reaching America, but Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair, "Trump wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle." The Pentagon confirmed strikes on three suspected drug boats, killing eight people. Lawmakers have asked the Department of Defense to release video of a September 2 attack, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called it "top secret" and refused. The Trump administration calls their actions a success in blocking drug shipments and confronting Maduro’s regime.