The United States is increasing its pressure on Venezuela's government. They are now taking oil tankers that belong to Venezuela. This is a big step by the Trump administration. The goal is to control Venezuela's important oil exports. This action is part of a larger plan to weaken the government. It could change the country's future.
The US Southern Command announced they captured the ship Sagitta. This shows their strong approach. They said this proves they will not let US-sanctioned oil leave Venezuela. This is not the first time. Similar seizures happened in December. This strategy aims to stop money from reaching the Venezuelan government. US officials say Venezuelan oil is "stolen." However, some legal experts disagree. They think this violates Venezuela's rights.
The US is also using military actions. There are reports of an order to capture Nicolás Maduro. The details are not clear. But it shows the US is considering strong actions. The US also wants opposition leader María Corina Machado to help govern Venezuela. President Trump has talked about her possible role.
The US and Venezuela have a long history with oil. Venezuela took control of its oil industry in 1971. Later, they took back assets from foreign companies. This showed Venezuela's control. However, the current US government wants to use power and sanctions to regain influence. The success of stopping oil exports depends on Venezuela cooperating. This seems unlikely because the government is strong.
Despite pressure and problems, Venezuela's government is still strong. This is because of political control and other activities. Armed groups are still active. This makes outside help difficult. Vice President Delcy Rodríguez must balance keeping people happy and dealing with US demands.
These US actions can affect the whole region. It is hard to know what will happen next. The future depends on Venezuela's own power struggles and US goals. There will likely be more tension and uncertainty. The main issue is who will control Venezuela's oil.