The United States has started a large naval blockade. This is to stop oil ships going to or from Venezuela. President Donald Trump said all sanctioned oil vessels must be stopped. This action has increased tension in South America and the Caribbean. This follows a recent seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker by the US military. Venezuela called this act theft and piracy.
These new steps are part of a plan to weaken the Venezuelan government. The US says Venezuela is involved in terrorism and drug smuggling. President Trump said the Venezuelan government has taken American money. He also said they use stolen oil money for bad activities. The US has sent many warships and thousands of troops to the area. US ships have stopped many boats near Venezuela since September.
The US military took a tanker with about two million barrels of oil. This tanker was brought to Texas. This happened before the blockade was announced. It shows the US wants to stop Venezuela's oil exports. Oil exports are Venezuela's main source of money. Venezuela has strongly criticized the blockade. They called it an "irrational" attempt to take their resources. They also said it is a "threat" to their country.
The US actions have big effects. They will hurt Venezuela's economy. However, some people in the US are also critical. Congressman Joaquin Castro said the blockade is "an act of war." He worries about a larger conflict. The situation is still very uncertain. Venezuela claims the US wants to take their resources. The next few weeks will show if these measures work. They will also show the effect on the region.