In an escalation of US policy toward Venezuela, the White House has ordered American military forces to largely focus on enforcing a “quarantine” of Venezuelan oil for the next two months as part of its strategy to squeeze economic pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government, according to a Reuters report.
The move, announced on Wednesday, signals a shift toward tighter sanctions enforcement while keeping broader military options on the table.
What the 'quarantine' order means
According to a US official, who spoke to Reuters, the White House directive is clear: US forces should concentrate almost exclusively on ensuring Venezuela’s oil does not flow freely to markets that would undermine US sanctions.
“While military options still exist, the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking for,” the official said.
The use of the word “quarantine” rather than “blockade” appears deliberate. A blockade can be considered an act of war under international law, whereas “quarantine” echoes Cold War-era language that suggests pressure without open military confrontation.
Pressure on Maduro intensifies
The official noted that the efforts so far have created significant strain on Venezuela’s economy. “The belief is that by late January Venezuela will be facing an economic calamity unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the US,” the official added.
President Donald Trump has been publicly coy about his full intentions regarding Venezuela, but insiders say privately he has urged Maduro to step aside. In recent remarks, Trump suggested it would be “smart” for Maduro to leave power, framing the pressure as a path toward political change.
The shift comes amid one of the largest US military presences in the Caribbean in decades, with thousands of troops, warships, and aircraft deployed, officially as part of sanction enforcement and maritime security operations. The US Coast Guard has also intercepted or seized multiple Venezuelan-linked oil tankers under the broader sanctions regime.
Venezuela has condemned the actions, accusing the United States of economic coercion and threatening retaliation. Caracas has described the oil “quarantine” as tantamount to piracy and a form of aggression that violates its sovereignty.
