What’s needed is a US rapid-deployment economic team ready to shore up new or fragile democracies like Venezuela — and keep them on our side.

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro warned that his country must “stand like warriors … ready to smash the teeth of the North American empire” Wednesday, a moment that coincided with the US seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast.

Closely tied to Washington during much of the Cold War, Venezuela has gone through political upheavals over the years that now make it a major enemy in the eyes of the Trump administration.

President Trump ordered a total blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers, designated the Maduro regime a foreign terrorist organization, and framed the move as reclaiming U.S. assets he says were stolen.

How America First foreign policy and the 2025 National Security Strategy explain U.S. actions toward Venezuela, migration, energy security, and regional power.

Amid a months-long buildup of American military forces surrounding Venezuela, the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of the country.

Ari Fleischer said President Donald Trump has to do a better job of explaining the threat from Venezuela to the American people on Tuesday's "Special Report." BRET BAIER, FOX NEWS: Ari, you know, the president is saying,

Trump orders total blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers as the South American nation controls world's largest oil reserves with over 300 billion barrels.