President Donald Trump is poised to make a significant announcement this afternoon, following a dramatic escalation in US maritime operations targeting Venezuela's oil exports.
Mar-a-Lago Announcement Follows Naval Operations
The President will speak from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida at 4.30 pm ET on Monday 22 December 2025. He will be joined by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Navy John Phelan. The event comes directly after the United States Coast Guard seized a second sanctioned oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast over the weekend.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the action in a social media statement, declaring, "The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region." She added a stark warning: "We will find you, and we will stop you." This followed an initial interception made on December 10.
Pursuit of a Third Vessel and Broader Strategy
The situation is actively developing, with a US official telling Reuters that authorities are now in "active pursuit of a third sanctioned dark fleet vessel." The official stated the ship is "flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order" as part of Venezuela's efforts to evade international sanctions.
These aggressive maritime interventions mark a sharp intensification of the Trump administration's pressure campaign against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The moves enforce a previously announced US "blockade" on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country's ports.
A Pattern of Lethal Force in the Region
The administration's strategy extends beyond seizures. This autumn has seen the US military conduct a series of lethal missile strikes against boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. These operations have, according to reports, resulted in more than 100 fatalities.
The forthcoming announcement from Mar-a-Lago is expected to address this broader campaign, signalling a continued hardline approach towards Venezuela and its allies. The developments underscore a significant and dangerous flashpoint in regional geopolitics as the year draws to a close.
