Trump orders two-month 'quarantine' on Venezuelan oil - Reuters
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
The White House has ordered the US military to focus on a "quarantine" (blockade) of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months, according to Reuters.
"While military options still exist, the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking (for)," the official said on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to Reuters, the statement could reduce the likelihood of US ground strikes against Venezuela, which have been repeatedly mentioned by US President Donald Trump.
The official added that the White House directive instructed US forces to focus almost exclusively on the "quarantine" of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months.
"The efforts so far have put tremendous pressure on Maduro, and the belief is that by late January, Venezuela will be facing an economic calamity unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the US," the official said.
Blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers
On December 16, Trump announced a full blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan waters, effectively seeking to cut off the main source of revenue for the Maduro regime.
Oil industry experts say that if Venezuela is unable to export crude, filling storage tanks would force the state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela SA to begin shutting down oil wells.
In addition to the oil blockade, Trump said about a week ago that he was designating the Maduro regime as a foreign terrorist organization, accusing it of involvement in drug trafficking.
Against the backdrop of rising tensions, Trump did not rule out the possibility that the United States could launch a military campaign against Venezuela in the future.
A detailed analysis of why the White House is threatening Venezuela and whether a US invasion is possible is available in a report by RBC-Ukraine.
