Is the US on the verge of war with Venezuela? Trump declares, "I don't," during his outburst against sanctioned oil vessels.

The Trump administration has frequently asserted that the attacks have targeted purported drug vessels and that Venezuela is funding "drug terrorism" with oil profits.

President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he is not ruling out the potential of war with Venezuela after his outburst about sanctioned oil vessels entering and leaving the country.

In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump stated, "I don't rule it out, no." When asked if he rules out the potential that the "blockade" of sanctioned oil ships could result in conflict, the president responded, "I don't discuss it."

Trump's remarks over the potential for conflict with Venezuela coincide with his administration's restrictions on all oil ships entering and leaving the country in South America. The administration has consistently asserted that the attacks have targeted purported drug vessels and that Venezuela is funding "drug terrorism" with oil earnings.

Trump's "blockade" of oil tankers from Venezuela
In an effort to put more pressure on Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, Donald Trump issued an order on Tuesday that he described as a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the country. The US has previously taken control of an oil tanker that was found close to Venezuela.

Trump posted on Truth Social that "the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America completely surrounds Venezuela." "It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before."

Trump's campaign has already led to 28 boat strikes that have killed over 100 people, including a "double tap" strike that is being investigated by Congress, according to an NBC News investigation.

More oil tanker seizures?
Trump acknowledged that more oil tanker seizures might occur when questioned about his administration's activities.

"It depends," Trump said to NBC News when pressed for a deadline. They will return to one of our harbors if they are stupid enough to continue sailing."

How did Venezuela respond?
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Venezuelan government called Trump's actions "a reckless and grave threat" and accused him of "violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation."

"On his social media, he assumes that Venezuela's oil, land, and mineral wealth are his property," the statement continued.

The statement also mentioned Trump's post on Truth Social, saying, "As a result, he demands that Venezuela immediately hand over all its riches." With the intention of taking our country's wealth, the President of the United States plans to impose a purportedly unreasonable naval blockade on Venezuela.

Why is Trump applying pressure on Venezuela?
Trump has frequently attributed the influx of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants into the United States on Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela. A BBC investigation estimates that since 2013, eight million Venezuelans have left the nation due to economic hardship and oppression.

Trump has accused Maduro of "emptying his prisons and insane asylums" and "forcing" prisoners to migrate to the US, without providing any proof. Additionally, he has focused much of his discourse on stopping the flow of drugs into the United States, especially cocaine and fentanyl.

Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles are two Venezuelan criminal organizations that the POTUS has labeled as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), claiming that Maduro is the leader of the latter.

Maduro has fiercely denied being a cartel leader and accused the United States of trying to overthrow him and seize control of Venezuela's enormous oil riches by using the country's "war on drugs" as a pretext.