US president signals possible war with Venezuela

US President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility that Washington could engage in war with Venezuela.

In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump emphasised that the interception of Venezuelan oil tankers would continue, Calliber.Az reports.

Trump said, "I don't discuss it" when asked whether such actions could lead to war.

Pressed further, he confirmed it was a possibility and added that more oil tanker seizures are planned. When asked for a timeline, Trump replied: "It depends. If they’re foolish enough to be sailing along, they’ll be sailing along back into one of our harbors."

The American leader also refused to clarify whether removing Maduro was his ultimate objective.

"He knows exactly what I want," Trump said. "He knows better than anybody."

Previously, he stated that the US intends to recover control over Venezuelan oil, which he claimed had been taken from the country. 

Following these statements, The New York Times reported that the Venezuelan Navy began escorting oil vessels after US threats to block maritime traffic.

US pressure on Venezuela ramps up in 2025 with military deployments and sanctions targeting alleged drug-trafficking operations, which Caracas deems aggressive.

Tensions escalated on December 10 when US forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela’s coast, an act Maduro denounced as “international piracy.”

Washington says the measures aim to disrupt illicit oil networks funding foreign terrorist groups, while Venezuela condemns them as economic warfare violating maritime law. 

On December 16, Maduro called on US citizens to oppose what he described as a Trump-instigated conflict over Venezuelan oil.

By Jeyhun Aghazada