Trump Claims Venezuela Illegally Seized US Oil, Warns of Escalated Pressure

US President Donald Trump has accused Venezuela of illegally taking American oil and energy assets, warning that Washington will escalate pressure until those resources are returned. The remarks signal a sharp intensification of US action against President Nicolás Maduro’s government, even as Democrats caution that the strategy appears aimed at regime change rather than counter-narcotics enforcement.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump alleged that Venezuela had unlawfully appropriated US energy rights. “They took all of our energy rights. They took all of our oil… and we want it back,” he said, insisting the assets were seized illegally.

Earlier, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Venezuela was now surrounded by what he described as the “largest armada in South American history,” claiming the deployment would continue expanding until Caracas returned what he called “stolen” oil and related assets.

The comments come amid Washington’s decision to block Venezuelan seaborne oil shipments, a move that Caracas has condemned as illegal and taken to the United Nations. Oil flows from Venezuela, particularly to Cuba, have reportedly slowed significantly following the blockade.

Opposition Democrats have raised concerns over the administration’s approach. Congressman Gregory Meeks warned that the campaign appeared focused on oil and political change rather than drug enforcement. “Trump is provoking a new war right in our backyard,” he said, cautioning that the strategy could destabilise the wider region.

US pressure on Venezuela has steadily increased in recent months. Washington continues to accuse Caracas of failing to curb narcotics trafficking, while US media reports suggest Trump has authorised CIA covert operations inside the country and may allow future military strikes targeting drug cartels.

Since August, the US has expanded its military presence in the Caribbean, carried out airstrikes on vessels it claims were involved in drug smuggling, and deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the region in November.

Trump’s allies have also revived historical claims over Venezuela’s oil sector. Senior adviser Stephen Miller argued that US innovation originally built the country’s petroleum industry before it was nationalised in 1976. Subsequent policies under former president Hugo Chávez forced out major American firms, including ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, which later won international arbitration awards.

A US court has since ordered the sale of Citgo, Venezuela’s US-based refining arm, to help satisfy a USD 12 billion claim by ConocoPhillips, further escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas.