China and Russia have voiced support for Venezuela as it faces a US blockade of oil tankers, amid escalating pressure from Donald Trump on the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro.
The US president has repeatedly called on Maduro to step down, while defending Washington’s seizure of Venezuelan oil shipments in recent weeks. Trump said the US would either keep or sell the oil taken off the Venezuelan coast.
Asked whether the aim was to remove Maduro from power, Trump told reporters it would be “smart” for him to leave office, warning that further resistance would have serious consequences.
Following Trump’s announcement last week of a “blockade” on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, activity at the country’s ports has slowed. According to Reuters, most vessels are now moving oil only between domestic ports.
The number of tankers loaded with oil but unable to depart has increased, leaving millions of barrels stranded at sea. Buyers are reportedly demanding steeper discounts and changes to contracts to compensate for the risks of sailing beyond Venezuelan waters.
China’s foreign ministry condemned the interception of an oil tanker bound for China off the Venezuelan coast on Saturday, calling the seizure a violation of international law.
The White House said the tanker was part of Venezuela’s shadow fleet and was carrying sanctioned oil, though the vessel itself is not currently under US sanctions. Panama’s foreign minister said the supertanker, Centuries, which was flying Panama’s flag, had breached maritime regulations by changing its name and switching off its transponder while transporting oil from Venezuela.
China said Venezuela had the right to develop relations with other countries and reiterated its opposition to what it described as unilateral and illegal sanctions. China is Venezuela’s largest crude buyer, accounting for about 4% of its oil imports.
Russia also criticised US actions. On Monday, the Russian foreign ministry said the foreign ministers of Russia and Venezuela had expressed deep concern about Washington’s escalating operations in the Caribbean, warning of risks to regional stability and international shipping.
The ministry said Moscow reaffirmed its full support for the Venezuelan government and people.
Meanwhile, the empty supertanker Bella 1, which the US coast guard attempted to intercept on Sunday as it approached Venezuela, was seen drifting north-east of Bermuda, according to satellite imagery obtained by TankerTrackers.com. A US official said the ship had not been boarded.
Trump has accused the Maduro government of using oil revenues to finance drug trafficking and other crimes. Since September, US forces have carried out strikes on vessels Washington claims were involved in narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
More than 100 people have been killed in those operations, with some victims identified as fishermen by their families and governments.
Venezuela has accused the US of seeking regime change and described the tanker seizures as acts of international piracy.
In a televised address on Monday, Maduro hit back at Trump, saying the US president should focus on domestic problems rather than threatening Venezuela.
