US president Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. is still actively pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela, but that he’s confident the vessel will be seized. He also warned that the United States will retain control of recently seized Venezuelan oil, signalling a hardline approach toward Caracas as Washington weighs options ranging from resale to placement in strategic reserves.
“It’s moving along and we’ll end up getting it,” the president said while unveiling a new class of battleships from Mar-a-Lago on Monday. “Yeah, we’re actually pursuing it. Can you imagine? Yeah, because it came from the wrong location. It came out of Venezuela, and it was sanctioned.”
On Venezuela’s president Nicholas Maduro, Trump said it would be “smart” for him to step down when asked if the administration’s ultimate goal in Venezuela is to force him from power.
“Well, I think it probably would. I can’t tell that that’s up to him what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that. But again, we’re going to find out,” he said.
Trump also said the United States will keep the oil and ships after seizing recently tankers. US authorities have previously targeted shipments accused of violating sanctions or attempting to circumvent restrictions.
“We’re going to keep it,” Trump told reporters at a Mar-a-Lago news conference on Monday, when asked directly what the administration planned to do with the oil that has been seized on December 10. Thus, confirming that the oil seized by US authorities would not be returned.
Pressed on whether the oil would be sold or used domestically, Trump said the administration had not made a final determination but made clear that Washington would maintain control over the shipment.
“Maybe we’ll sell it, maybe we’ll keep it, maybe we’ll use it in the strategic reserves,” he said.
“We’re keeping the ships also,” he added.
When asked if he had spoken with American oil firms that have had their assets seized about what a post-Maduro Venezuela would mean for them coming back and restarting operations, Trump said: “I have – all the big ones, yeah, I have.”
Trump has repeatedly argued that economic pressure and enforcement are necessary to protect US interests. Caracas, however, has condemned the seizures as “piracy” and accused the U.S. of economic warfare. Venezuela has also accused the Trump administration of trying to steal its resources.
Trump last week ordered what he called a “complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela, targeting the government’s main source of revenue.
Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone call with his Venezuelan counterpart on Monday, after which Russia expressed “full support for and solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership.”
“The ministers expressed grave concern in connection with Washington stepping up its escalation actions in the Caribbean, actions fraught with far-reaching consequences for the region and creating a threat for international shipping,” the Russian foreign ministry said in its notice.
The Russian side reaffirmed its all-out support and solidarity with the leaders and people of Venezuela in the current context. The ministers agreed on further close bilateral interaction and coordination of steps internationally, primarily at the UN, in order to ensure respect for the sovereignty of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.
