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ConflictsVenezuela

Venezuela's Maduro calls US naval siege colonization attempt

Jörg Jelinnek
December 17, 2025

Donald Trump has ordered a naval blockade on oil tankers heading in and out of Venezuelan ports. Trump claims Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro uses oil revenues to fund drug-trafficking into the US.

https://p.dw.com/p/55ZUX

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro danced to a peace anthem at a labor congress, but in a speech at the event, his message was defiant. He said the US sought to "colonize" Venezuela for its oil and minerals.

Days earlier, Washington seized a sanctioned tanker and announced a naval buildup, accusing Maduro of funding drug trafficking with oil revenues.