President Donald Trump ordered a total blockade Tuesday of sanctioned oil tankers moving in and out of Venezuela.

Trump announced the sweeping action in a statement accusing the Maduro regime of financing crime and terrorism with what he described as stolen U.S. assets. Trump said the United States has assembled the “largest Armada ever” in South American history to encircle Venezuela, warning that the pressure campaign will intensify until the regime returns oil fields, land, and other assets he claimed were taken from the U.S.

“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us,” Trump wrote.

He said that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro uses revenue from those oil fields to bankroll drug trafficking, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping.

“The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping. For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela.”

Trump framed the blockade as part of a broader effort to defend U.S. sovereignty and economic interests. (RELATED: Lindsey Graham Suggests Drug Boat Strikes Will Be In Vain If Trump Allows Socialist Dictator To Stay)

“The Illegal Aliens and Criminals that the Maduro Regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration, are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace,” Trump added. “America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Trump escalated pressure on the Maduro regime Monday by designating fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction. Meanwhile, U.S. forces have continued striking suspected drug-smuggling vessels, killing at least 95 alleged traffickers since the operations began in September.

The United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, Trump confirmed Wednesday. Trump did not disclose the vessel’s ownership or origin but described it as “very large,” saying it’s the largest tanker ever seized.

The U.S. military has steadily expanded its presence and operations in the southern Caribbean off Venezuela’s coast for months, fueling speculation that the Trump administration is preparing for a direct confrontation with the Maduro regime or even pursuing regime change. Trump added to that uncertainty, telling reporters Wednesday that “other things are happening” beyond the tanker seizure. He said in a Politico interview that Maduro’s “days are numbered.”

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