Last month Donald Trump declared a “total blockade” on US-sanctioned tankers heading to and from Venezuela, escalating a stand-off with the country’s authoritarian president, Nicolás Maduro.
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The US president said in a Thursday interview with NBC that he would not rule out war with Venezuela, and that more oil tankers would be seized. “If they’re foolish enough to be sailing along, they’ll be sailing along back into one of our harbours,” he said.
Satellite images and tracking data show a recent build-up of US aircraft in the region, adding to the military presence menacing Venezuela and deterring oil tankers and commercial flights.