Top Trump administration officials are set to brief all congressional lawmakers on a military operation in Venezuela. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in full effect anywhere in the world, following the seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker.
The US European Command has now confirmed the interception of the tanker, M/V Bella 1, which was seized pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by the USCGC Munro. The operation is believed to be being carried out by the Coast Guard and US military, with Russian military vessels in the general vicinity.
Trump officials will also hold a briefing for all congressional lawmakers on the strikes in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, over the weekend. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected to address lawmakers about the operation.
The Trump administration has been trying to seize Venezuelan oil reserves, with US President Donald Trump claiming that the country's oil is being "plundered" by Maduro's regime. The move could potentially lead to tensions between the US and Venezuela, as well as China, which takes a significant portion of its oil exports from Venezuela.
The administration's plans for Venezuela have been met with skepticism from analysts and experts, who argue that the country's oil reserves are not as easily accessible as Trump claims. Some also point out that the move could lead to increased tensions between the US and Russia, given the Russian involvement in the tanker.
In other news, Global oil prices have fallen by more than 1% after Trump announced that Venezuela would hand over 30m-50m barrels of its blockaded crude to the US. The move is seen as a threat to drag on oil prices, which are already oversupplied and could plummet further if the plan goes ahead.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been criticized for its handling of vaccination policy in the US, with health officials recommending fewer vaccines than usual for some groups. The decision has been met with criticism from experts and parents who argue that it is based on flawed science and may lead to increased disease outbreaks.
The US European Command has now confirmed the interception of the tanker, M/V Bella 1, which was seized pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court after being tracked by the USCGC Munro. The operation is believed to be being carried out by the Coast Guard and US military, with Russian military vessels in the general vicinity.
Trump officials will also hold a briefing for all congressional lawmakers on the strikes in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, over the weekend. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected to address lawmakers about the operation.
The Trump administration has been trying to seize Venezuelan oil reserves, with US President Donald Trump claiming that the country's oil is being "plundered" by Maduro's regime. The move could potentially lead to tensions between the US and Venezuela, as well as China, which takes a significant portion of its oil exports from Venezuela.
The administration's plans for Venezuela have been met with skepticism from analysts and experts, who argue that the country's oil reserves are not as easily accessible as Trump claims. Some also point out that the move could lead to increased tensions between the US and Russia, given the Russian involvement in the tanker.
In other news, Global oil prices have fallen by more than 1% after Trump announced that Venezuela would hand over 30m-50m barrels of its blockaded crude to the US. The move is seen as a threat to drag on oil prices, which are already oversupplied and could plummet further if the plan goes ahead.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been criticized for its handling of vaccination policy in the US, with health officials recommending fewer vaccines than usual for some groups. The decision has been met with criticism from experts and parents who argue that it is based on flawed science and may lead to increased disease outbreaks.
like why does the us want its oil so bad? can't they just, like, let venezuela have it or something? and omg have you seen the prices of vaccines lately? i'm all for not wanting to get sick but come on, isn't getting vaccinated kinda important? 
btw, has anyone tried that new ice cream shop downtown? i heard it's got this one flavor with salted caramel and pretzels... mmm
i cant even begin to talk about this new development in venezuela!!! so apparently the us military intercepted a russian flagged tanker carrying venezuelan oil which was being tracked by the us coast guard lol what a move!!! meanwhile trump is trying to claim that venezuela's oil is being "plundered" by maduro's regime and now wants to seize those reserves for himself 
i mean i get why he'd want it but come on, its not that simple. btw, have u seen the news about the global oil prices falling after trump announced that venezuela would give the us some of its blocked crude? 
i guess only time will tell if this whole operation is gonna backfire or if trump's plan actually works 
like how this all just escalated in one day... first they're trying to seize Venezuela's oil, now they're expecting lawmakers to listen to some briefing about a military operation... what's next? 
I'm not sure what's more concerning – the fact that Trump officials are planning a military operation in Venezuela or the vaccine rollout drama here at home 
. Either way, it feels like the US is trying to take matters into its own hands instead of working with international partners. Can't we just have a calm discussion about these issues? Maybe instead of a briefing for all congressional lawmakers, they could try having an open forum where everyone can share their thoughts and concerns 
. I'm also worried about the impact on global oil prices – do we really want to see a price war that could hurt economies around the world? Let's try to find some common ground here...
...this news about Venezuela and the US blocking their oil exports just makes me think about how unstable the world is right now. What if this blockade affects food prices or causes a shortage? It's not just about the oil, it's about the people and the country's economy.
I'm literally shaking my head over here! Another one of Trump's wild moves 
Like, what's next? The US is gonna start controlling Venezuela's entire economy? 
. What's Trump trying to prove here? 
Like, who gets to decide what's "plundered" and what's not? 
It just sounds like more of the same drama with Maduro 
. I'm all for a peaceful resolution, but this approach is just gonna fuel the fire 
.
We need to stay informed and make sure our voices are heard 
. Stay strong, Venezuela! 
I mean, I get it, we gotta stay safe and all, but can't they just follow some decent science here? 