Trump Threatens Maduro: “If He Plays Tough, It Will Be the Last Time”
US President Donald Trump warned President Nicolás Maduro not to challenge US power, following US efforts to tighten the blockade on Venezuelan oil shipments. Trump said the US would retain oil seized from the supertanker, but he did not reveal whether his administration intended to oust Maduro.
Trump stated, “He can do whatever he wants, but if he plays tough, it will be the last time he plays tough.” However, Trump also indicated that Maduro’s future depends on his own choices. This statement contrasts with comments by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who said Maduro must go. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Maduro’s collaboration with drug cartels and terrorists “intolerable.”
US action intensified with the seizure of two tankers and the pursuit of a third linked to Venezuela. Over the weekend, the US intercepted a tanker suspected of being linked to Venezuela, exacerbating diplomatic tensions. Some vessels, despite sanctions, continue to transport oil from Venezuela, and the US is targeting the oil revenue stream Maduro relies on to survive.
At the same time, Maduro has struck a more moderate tone, stating that Venezuela will fulfill its contract with Chevron despite the "temporary conflict" with the US. This statement suggests that despite rising tensions, Venezuela is still trying to maintain international economic relations.
In an effort to combat drug trafficking, the US has also launched deadly raids on vessels involved in drug smuggling, with more than 90 deaths since September 2025. The US Coast Guard is overseeing the seizures of vessels, while the US Southern Command is strengthening its military presence around Venezuela.
Although the US claims these operations are aimed at stopping the flow of fentanyl, which it claims originates from Venezuela, many experts believe that most of the seized vessels are actually involved in cocaine smuggling. These actions are also said to be aimed at weakening the Venezuelan economy, which is heavily dependent on revenue from oil exports.
The US government continues to pressure Maduro with an increasingly intense blockade, which is putting pressure on the Venezuelan economy. The country currently exports around 900,000 barrels of oil per day, 30% of which involves a fleet of ships that are difficult to track. Oil revenues are crucial to Venezuela's economy, but with the dwindling dollar supply, the economy is on the brink of collapse. (asd)
Source: Bloomberg.com
