The United States has escalated its pressure campaign against Venezuela by enforcing what it calls a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers, sharply slowing activity at Venezuelan ports and trapping millions of barrels of crude at sea. President Donald Trump has openly linked these actions to his demand that President Nicolás Maduro step aside, warning that further resistance would bring even harsher consequences. The move has deepened fears of economic strangulation and regional instability.
China has strongly criticised the interception of a China bound oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast, calling it a serious violation of international law. Beijing has reiterated that Venezuela has the sovereign right to trade and maintain relations with other countries, while opposing what it describes as unilateral and illegal sanctions. This stance matters greatly as China remains the largest buyer of Venezuelan crude, accounting for a notable share of its oil imports.
Russia has also entered the diplomatic fray, with its foreign ministry warning that Washington’s actions in the Caribbean could endanger international shipping and destabilise the wider region. Moscow has reaffirmed full political support for the Venezuelan leadership, framing the issue as one of sovereignty and resistance to coercive diplomacy rather than oil trade alone.
Caracas, meanwhile, views the tanker seizures and maritime actions as a clear attempt at regime change and has accused the United States of international piracy. Maduro has pushed back publicly, arguing that Washington should focus on its own domestic challenges instead of threatening Venezuela. As global powers take sides, the crisis is fast becoming a test case for the future of sanctions, maritime law, and power politics in the global energy system.
