White House orders US military forces to focus on putting economic pressure on Venezuela, agency says

Reuters: US awaits reinforcement to board oil tanker The White House has ordered US military forces to focus almost exclusively on leaving Venezuela in a state of “quarantine”, an American official told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday (24). “While military options still exist, the focus is first to use economic pressure, through the application of sanctions, to achieve the outcome the White House seeks,” the official said. The declaration reduces the chance of an immediate ground offensive by the United States against Venezuela, a possibility that President Donald Trump has repeatedly mentioned. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House order was for U.S. forces to focus almost exclusively “on quarantining Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months.” “The efforts so far have put tremendous pressure on (Venezuelan President Nicolás) Maduro, it is believed that by the end of January, Venezuela will face economic calamity unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the US,” the official said. At an event at the White House on Monday (22), the American president stated that the ‘smartest’ thing the Venezuelan could do is to resign and that there will be consequences if he wants to ‘play tough’. On Tuesday (23), the United States informed the UN Security Council that it will impose and enforce sanctions against Venezuela and its president, Nicolás Maduro, to the maximum extent permitted. The United States Coast Guard is awaiting the arrival of additional forces before attempting to board and seize the third oil tanker linked to Venezuela, according to Reuters. Trump says it would be “smart” for Maduro to leave power in Venezuela

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