3 week agoTanker Trackers: An update on SKIPPER (9304667): We are tracking her movements by satellite imagery (just to confirm the AIS data) and can see that she is about a day away from reaching GOLA (Galveston Offshore Lightering Area) where she will have to transfer her 1.85 million barrels cargo onto three smaller tankers in order to feed oil refineries in ports such as Houston
3 week agoIn a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec. 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela. The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you. Thank you to our brave men
A US Air Force B-52 bomber enters Ecuador for the first time, in a move reflecting a military buildup around Venezuela that goes beyond limited airstrikes and reinforces regional deployment points in the area.
Trump formally nominates Lt. Gen. Donovan, currently the Vice Commander of SOCOM, to lead U.S. Southern Command. Reuters first reported this last week
Today, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned several family members and associates of the Maduro-Flores family. This action further targets the narco-corruption structure that sustains Nicolás Maduro’s illegitimate regime, namely the familial networks of Carlos Erik Malpica Flores and Ramon Carretero Napolitano.
3 week agoFour officials (two military and two police officers) were killed in Santa Cruz de Aragua, after an ambush
3 week agoMarco Rubio: We are not concerned about an escalation with Russia with regards to Venezuela. We have always expected them to provide rhetorical support for Maduro. They have their hands full in Ukraine
Asked if the US wants regime change in Venezuela, @SecRubio says, "Our goal is regional stability in the national interest of the US. Do we consider Maduro legitimate? - No
3 week agoTrump said he is not ruling out war with Venezuela, telling NBC News, “I don’t rule it out.”
Panama's president announces that a direct flight to Caracas carrying Venezuelan migrants will take place next Monday.
Chevron proceeds with crude oil shipments from Venezuela despite tensions with the U.S., according to Bloomberg
3 week agoChinese Foreign Ministry: We support Venezuela's request for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council
Maduro speaks by phone with the UN chief after escalating US threats and blockade announced by Trump
3 week agoTrump: Drugs brought in by ocean and by sea are now down 94%
3 week agoVenezuelan President Maduro is calling for a "perfect union" with the Colombian military in defense of his country's sovereignty, a move that comes amid the US deployment in Caribbean waters under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. Maduro denounces a "warmongering and colonialist agenda" by the country governed by Donald Trump, who ordered a total blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers. Despite this, the Chavista leader stated that "trade back and forth" of Venezuelan oil will continue.
Venezuela on Wednesday requested that the United Nations Security Council meet to discuss "ongoing U.S. aggression" against the country, according to a letter to the 15-member body seen by Reuters. A U.N. diplomat said a meeting would likely be scheduled for Tuesday
3 week ago.@POTUS on the Naval blockade on Venezuela: "We're not gonna let anybody going through that shouldn't be going through. They took all of our energy rights—they took all of our oil from not that long ago. they illegally took it
3 week agoTrump on Venezuela: We want it back. They took our oil rights. We had a lot of oil there. As you know. They threw our companies out and we want it back
Trump: Venezuela took our oil and we want it back after they expelled our companies.
US military aircraft maintain patrols off the Venezuelan coast for the second consecutive day
Trinidad and Tobago asserts that it is not involved in the US blockade of Venezuela.
3 week agoFollowing Trump's threat of a total embargo on sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers, Venezuela sent naval escorts to protect ships leaving its ports. The United States is aware of the escorts and is considering options, but has not said what it will do next. Maduro maintains that exports will continue "at any price."
Supreme Court of Justice condemns Trump's blockade announcement as an "attack on sovereignty".
Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA, says oil exports are continuing as normal following US President Trump's announcement of a blockade on Venezuelan tankers.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López affirms that the Venezuelan Armed Forces will preserve the country's territorial integrity "at all costs".
A spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry announced that the country's government attaches importance to preventing the escalation of the crisis in Venezuela and the region.
Venezuelan President Maduro proposed organizing protest actions against US "piracy" in various ports around the world.
The United States is imposing a blockade on sanctioned and threatened tankers bound for or leaving Venezuela - @realDonaldTrump
3 week agoCaribbean Sea: Several @USNavy assets up; with 5x F/A-18s and an E-2 showing
3 week agoWhite House: President Donald J. Trump's address to the Nation tomorrow night at 9 pm EST
