Trump to address nation amid rising tensions with Venezuela

US President Donald Trump is set to deliver a statement on December 22, accompanied by Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Navy Commander John Phelan, the White House reports. 

The topic of the address has not been disclosed. Earlier, the President is scheduled to receive a closed intelligence briefing.

Speculation has circulated in the media that Trump might announce a military operation against Venezuela. However, in his previous address on December 18, the President made no reference to the South American nation.

Tensions between the US and Venezuela have been escalating in recent months. Following an expansion of US military presence off the Venezuelan coast in September, American forces have been intercepting ships alleged to be involved in drug trafficking.

On December 16, President Trump announced a full blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuelan waters, aiming to cut off the Maduro regime’s primary source of revenue. Oil industry experts warn that if Venezuela is unable to export its oil, storage facilities could reach capacity, forcing the state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) to halt production.

Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth reinforced the administration’s hardline stance, stating that the US would continue to detain Venezuelan tankers until the Maduro government returned all American assets.

In addition to the blockade, Trump recently designated the Maduro government as a foreign terrorist organization, accusing it of complicity in drug trafficking. He also did not rule out the possibility of future military action against Venezuela.

The December 22 statement is being closely watched as the US continues to exert maximum pressure on the Maduro regime amid growing regional and international scrutiny.

By Vafa Guliyeva