Trump Declares Blockade, Ignores USA's Own Hypocrisy
Donald Trump announced a 'total blockade' on Venezuelan oil tankers, as reported by Newsweek in 2018. The article, while factually relaying Trump's statement, conveniently omits the historical context of US foreign policy in Latin America. This isn't a new strategy; it's a playbook worn thin by decades of economic warfare, sanctions, and blockades against nations that choose not to align with
Washington's interests. From the Cuban embargo (instituted in 1960) to countless interventions throughout the continent, the narrative of 'freedom' often precedes economic strangulation. One might wonder if the concept of national sovereignty only applies to nations with nuclear weapons or robust trade deals with Washington. Or perhaps, the 'rules-based international order' is merely a suggestion
for the US, a polite request for others to follow while Washington dictates who can trade what, with whom, and under what conditions. It's not a 'blockade,' it's 'ensuring maritime security' when the US does it. It's 'totalitarianism' when the target pushes back.