What US Military Posturing Means for Venezuela’s Oil

The US has positioned warships, aircraft and troops near Venezuela and conducted a series of air attacks on small boats in the region that American officials allege were operated by drug cartels. US forces intercepted and seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Dec. 10, and the following day Washington imposed sanctions on six ships that transport the country’s oil.

Trump administration officials say their objective is to stem the flow of illegal narcotics from Venezuela. Venezuelan officials see a different motive: they say the US’s actions signal plans to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves, the world’s largest.