AI-Summary – News For Tomorrow
On December 23, 2025, the White House ordered U.S. military forces to prioritize enforcing the “quarantine” of Venezuelan oil for the next two months, aiming to exert economic pressure on President Maduro. A U.S. official stated that while military options remain, the focus is on using sanctions to achieve the White House’s desired outcome. This order could potentially reduce the likelihood of immediate U.S. land strikes against Venezuela, previously mentioned by President Trump. The goal is to create significant economic pressure, hoping that Venezuela will make significant concessions to the U.S. by late January.
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Item 1 of 2 A general view shows the White House on a cloudy day, in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 23, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
WASHINGTON, Dec 24 (Reuters) – The White House has ordered U.S. military forces to focus almost exclusively on enforcing the “quarantine” of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months, a U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday.
“While military options still exist the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking,” the official said.
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The statement could dampen the immediate prospect of U.S. land strikes against Venezuela that President Donald Trump has repeatedly said may take place.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House order was for U.S. forces to focus almost exclusively “on the quarantine of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months.”
“The efforts so far have put tremendous pressure on (Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro and the belief is that by late January Venezuela will be facing an economic calamity unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the U.S.,” the official said.
Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Michelle Nichols and Edmund Klamann
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
