WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday a blockade of “sanctioned oil vessels” heading to and leaving Venezuela, sharply escalating his pressure campaign against Caracas while issuing new demands for access to the country’s crude. The United States has for months been building a major military deployment in the Caribbean — with the stated goal of combatting Latin American drug trafficking, but taking particular aim at Venezuela.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered "a total and complete" blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

The moves comes after U.S. forces last week seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, an unusual move that followed a buildup of military forces in the region.