Blockade on tankers, declared the government a terrorist, why is Trump claiming Venezuelan oil as his own? inside story

US-Venezuela War: The ongoing dispute between America and Venezuela has taken the shape of war. America is now directly threatening Venezuela and directly asserting its rights over its oil. US President Donald Trump himself has said that America wants back its oil and energy rights in Venezuela, which according to Trump were illegally snatched away by the government there. Trump said this while talking to journalists and said that Venezuela had taken all our energy and oil rights. All this happened illegally and now we want it back.

Earlier, Trump had told on his social media platform Truth Social that Venezuela is facing the biggest naval siege of South America so far. He said the siege would continue until Caracas returns the stolen oil and related assets. Venezuela has strongly criticized this move of America and has complained to the United Nations. Overall, war is on the horizon.

Does all of America want this war?

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, a close aide of US President Donald Trump, has also given a controversial statement regarding Venezuelan oil. Reiterating Trump’s point, he said that Venezuela’s oil actually belongs to America and the nationalization of the oil industry there was theft. Miller wrote on social media that the oil industry in Venezuela was created due to American hard work, technology and capital. He alleged that the government there forcibly took it into its possession and this looted money was used to promote terrorism and spread drugs.

Will Trump attack Venezuela?

Democratic leaders in America say that this campaign has no longer become an action against drugs, but an attempt to capture oil and change power. Democrat MP Gregory Meeks said that Trump is trying to instigate a new war in our neighborhood and this could spread instability in the entire region.

What is the Venezuela-America dispute?

In fact, according to international law, the natural resources of any country are owned by that country. Venezuela nationalized its oil industry in 1976 and brought it under the state company PDVSA. In 2007, then President Hugo Chavez nationalized the remaining foreign oil projects, due to which American companies like Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips had to exit. American companies gave it a legal challenge and in 2014, a World Bank tribunal ordered Venezuela to pay $1.6 billion to Exxon Mobil. This matter is still not completely over. During his last term, Trump had imposed sanctions on Venezuelan government company PDVSA. In his second term, Trump has further intensified the policy of maximum pressure against Venezuela.

The talk started with attacks on boats in the name of drugs, and reached war.

Venezuela facing US siege

Recently Donald Trump announced a blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers and said that they have come under the ambit of sanctions. Trump claimed on social media that Venezuela is facing the largest naval siege ever seen in South America and that pressure will increase until stolen US assets are returned. Meanwhile, America seized an oil tanker near the coast of Venezuela, which Venezuela has called international piracy. America had started attacks on ships in the Caribbean Sea in the name of drugs, regarding which voice was also raised from the opposition in America. It is a different matter that Trump is not bothered by this and he is not holding back from attacking Venezuela.