00:00The pressure is at a fever pitch.
00:03The U.S. is pursuing a third oil tanker near Venezuela after seizing two others in the
00:08previous weeks that it says are under sanction, which Caracas has denounced as piracy under
00:14international law.
00:17On Monday night, U.S. President Donald Trump summarized Washington's multi-pronged campaign
00:21targeting the country, adding that it would keep the oil as well as the ships.
00:26Maybe we'll sell it. Maybe we'll keep it. Maybe we'll use it in the strategic reserves.
00:32We're keeping it. We're keeping the ships also.
00:36And though he stopped short of revealing a clear endgame, he did say that it would be
00:40smart for his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, to step down, rather than fight the
00:46massive U.S. military presence assembled in the Caribbean Sea.
00:50We have a massive armada formed, the biggest we've ever had. If he plays tough, it'll be
00:58the last time he's ever able to play tough.
01:00The goal in Venezuela to force Maduro from power?
01:03Well, I think it probably would. I can't tell. That's up to him what he wants to do.
01:08I think it would be smart for him to do that.
01:11In response, Maduro suggested that Trump should focus on domestic affairs instead of instigating
01:16conflict.
01:17He would do better with the world if he addressed the issues in his country.
01:25The people of the United States voted for a new United States adapted to humanity that
01:29respects sovereignty, that does not intervene, that does not harass any country, that does
01:35not lead countries towards war.
01:38Washington's pressure campaign on Caracas, that now includes a total blockade of the
01:43country, started with accusations of drug trafficking, accusing Maduro himself of leading a narco-terrorist
01:48cartel. It has included a series of strikes on numerous alleged drug boats, killing over
01:55100 people, some of whom are fishermen, several victims' families have said.
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