00:00A global standoff is taking shape in the Caribbean.
00:28American warships seized oil tankers, and now two world powers stepping in.
00:36As Washington tightens the screws on Venezuela, Russia and China are moving to back President
00:42Nicolas Maduro, raising fears that a regional crisis could spiral into a wider geopolitical
00:49confrontation.
00:50China and Russia have both expressed support for Venezuela as the United States enforces
00:56what President Donald Trump calls a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers.
01:01The move comes as the U.S. ramps up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, openly
01:07suggesting he should step aside.
01:10Trump has reiterated that the United States will keep or sell oil seized off Venezuela's
01:16coast.
01:17Asked whether his goal was regime change, Trump warned that if Maduro plays tough, it could
01:24be the last time.
01:25Those remarks have further inflamed tensions across the region.
01:30Since Trump announced the tanker blockade last week, activity at Venezuelan ports has
01:36slowed sharply.
01:37According to Reuters, millions of barrels of oil are now stuck on tankers as buyers demand
01:43steeper discounts to take the risk of sailing beyond Venezuelan waters.
01:47China reacted strongly after a tanker bound for Chinese ports was intercepted off Venezuela's
01:54coast.
01:55Beijing called the seizure a serious violation of international law and accused Washington
02:01of imposing unilateral and illegal sanctions.
02:05China is Venezuela's biggest crude buyer, accounting for roughly 4% of its oil imports.
02:11Meanwhile, Russia has also weighed in.
02:14Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Venezuelan counterpart warned that Washington's
02:21actions could destabilize the Caribbean and threaten international shipping.
02:26Moscow reaffirmed full support and solidarity with Venezuela's leadership.
02:31The United States says Venezuela is using oil revenues to finance drug trafficking and terrorism, claims
02:39Caracas denies.
02:41U.S. forces have since launched strikes on boats Washington says were linked to drugs, operations
02:47that have reportedly killed more than 100 people.
02:51Venezuela fears Washington is pursuing regime change.
02:55Maduro has accused the U.S. of international piracy and warned that the country will defend
03:01its sovereignty.
03:02On Monday, he fired back at Trump, urging the U.S. president to focus on domestic issues instead.
03:09With U.S. warships, seized tankers, and now Russian and Chinese backing for Caracas, Venezuela
03:16has become the latest flashpoint in a rapidly polarizing world.
03:20As oil, power, and politics collide, the question now is whether this standoff remains economic
03:27or turns into something far more dangerous.
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