US Venezuela Oil Sanctions 2025: Trump Intensifies Pressure Campaign

The war on Venezuela's "shadow fleet" has reached a boiling point. On December 31, 2025, the U.S. Treasury launched a fresh assault on the country's oil lifeline, signaling a volatile start to the new year under Donald Trump's relentless pressure campaign.

US Venezuela Oil Sanctions 2025: Cutting the Economic Cord

The latest measures target four companies and their associated tankers—the Nord Star, Rosalind, Valiant, and Della. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that these vessels are instrumental in bypassing sanctions to fund the "illegitimate narco-terrorist regime" of Nicolas Maduro.

From Economic Pressure to Military Action

The administration isn't just relying on paperwork. Recent months have seen a significant military buildup in the Caribbean. The U.S. military has already seized multiple tankers, including the Skipper, while the CIA is reportedly behind a recent bombing strike on a Venezuelan dock facility.

Critics and rights groups have raised alarms, labeling the Caribbean operations as extrajudicial killings after more than 100 people were killed in bombing campaigns. Meanwhile, Stephen Miller fueled controversy by claiming the U.S. "created the oil industry in Venezuela," suggesting the 1970s nationalization was a "theft of American wealth."