Caracas: “With oil blockade, Trump wants to steal our wealth”

Caracas (Venezuela), Dec. 17 (LaPresse/AP) – The Venezuelan government has issued a statement accusing US President Donald Trump of “violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation” with “a reckless and serious threat” against the South American country. “On his social media accounts, (Trump, ed.) presumes that Venezuela’s oil, land, and mineral wealth are his property” and “consequently demands that Venezuela immediately hand over all its wealth. The US president intends to impose, in a completely irrational manner, an alleged naval blockade on Venezuela with the aim of stealing the wealth that belongs to our nation,” said the government of President Nicolas Maduro, adding that it intends to report the situation to the United Nations. Caracas’ comment comes after Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth, announced that he had ordered “a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.” (Continued)