United States President Donald Trump has declared the Venezuelan government a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' and ordered a total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. This move intensifies pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, targeting the country's main source of income and escalating tensions in the region. Oil prices have risen as markets react to the potential reduction in Venezuelan exports, though uncertainty remains about how the blockade will be enforced and whether it will extend to non-sanctioned vessels.

The announcement has sparked legal and political debate, with critics questioning the president's authority to impose such a blockade and labeling it an act of war. Venezuela's government has condemned the order as a 'grotesque threat,' while American officials warn of significant impacts on Venezuela's economy and possible increases in migration. The situation follows recent seizures of oil tankers and a cyberattack on Venezuela's state oil company, further disrupting exports. As military tensions rise and oil markets brace for supply shocks, the full consequences of the blockade remain to be seen.