Tensions between the United States and Venezuela: UN calls for de-escalation after announcement of oil blockade

Tensions between Washington and Caracas have sharply increased after the United States announced a “total blockade” targeting sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from Venezuela. Faced with the risk of escalation, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday called for restraint and an immediate de-escalation of the situation, according to one of his spokespersons.

This call comes a day after a telephone conversation between Mr. Guterres and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In a statement, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the head of state denounced statements by US President Donald Trump, deemed unacceptable, according to which Venezuela's oil, natural resources, and territory belong to the United States. Caracas views this as a direct threat to its sovereignty, international law, and regional peace.

Despite the blockade announcement, the national oil company PDVSA asserts that crude oil and derivative product exports are continuing normally and that tankers continue to navigate safely. The American announcement nevertheless caused an increase in oil prices on international markets.

To justify this measure, Donald Trump accuses Venezuela of using its oil revenues to finance drug trafficking, human trafficking, and other criminal activities. He also highlighted the American military deployment in the Caribbean, evoking an encirclement of the country by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America, while maintaining ambiguity about a possible ground intervention.

International reactions are multiplying. Mexico called on the UN to prevent any bloodshed and reaffirmed its opposition to foreign interventions. China denounced all forms of unilateral intimidation and reaffirmed its support for Venezuelan sovereignty, while Iran called the blockade state piracy. In the United States itself, voices are rising: Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro stated that the naval blockade constituted an act of war unauthorized by Congress.

In this climate of strong diplomatic and military tensions, the UN's call for de-escalation appears as an attempt to prevent an open conflict with potentially serious regional and international consequences.

Jean Mapou