BREAKING: Trump surrounds Venezuela with armada, declares Maduro regime foreign terrorist organization

Trump said on Truth Social, "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us. The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping. For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION."

"Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela. The Illegal Aliens and Criminals that the Maduro Regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration, are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace. America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he added.

The announcement from Trump comes as there have been growing tensions between the president as well as the Maduro regime. In one of the latest moves before the post, the US seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela earlier this month. Pressure from Trump has been mounting against Maduro to give up his leadership in the South American nation.

In addition to seizing the tanker, the US has targeted and conducted military strikes on several drug boats en route to the US from Venezuela. The president has been steadily increasing US military presence in the Caribbean as well as off the coast of South America as part of the escalation.