In brief
Venezuela has strongly condemned the United States for allegedly extorting the country through the seizure of two oil tankers, labeling the action as worse than piracy. During an emergency UN Security Council meeting, Venezuela's envoy accused the U.S. of imposing the 'greatest extortion' in history as tensions escalate. President Trump has ordered a naval blockade on sanctioned oil tankers from Venezuela, leading to military deployments in the region, while also hinting at future actions regarding Venezuelan oil.
Venezuela has accused the United States of the 'greatest extortion' at an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York. Washington's seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers was 'worse than piracy,' the Venezuelan ambassador to the UN said. The emergency meeting of the Security Council was called to discuss the seizure of the tankers, which took place off the coast of Venezuela earlier this month. The US has also said it was pursuing a third Venezuelan oil tanker. President Trump has accused Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro of leading a drug cartel and said gangs had operated with impunity for too long.On 16 December, Trump ordered a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. The US President has said the US will keep or sell the crude oil it has taken, as well as the vessels themselves. The US has been building up its military presence in the Pacific and Caribbean Seas, sending 15,000 troops and various naval assets in response to drug trafficking concerns. Venezuela's envoy described the US actions as pillaging and looting, emphasizing a lack of US jurisdiction in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, Russia and China have criticized US actions, warning of potential escalation in the region.
