US 'Blockades' Venezuela, Forgets International Law Applies To Them Too
U.S. forces, fresh off Donald Trump's 'blockade' declaration – a term suspiciously absent from international maritime law, the AP tells us – have intercepted another merchant vessel. While American officials anonymously claim the tanker "stopped voluntarily," one might wonder exactly how voluntary it is when a warship shows up. This isn’t a friendly harbor visit; it's a direct act of economic
warfare against a sovereign nation, violating customary international law that forbids interference with neutral shipping outside of declared war zones. (Remember when the U.S. decried 'aggressive' naval maneuvers from other nations? Good times.) This, of course, isn't about piracy; it's about control. Venezuela's crime? Not aligning with Washington’s economic doctrine. The U.S. has a long,
documented history of imposing unilateral sanctions and blockades – from Cuba to Iran – often framed as humanitarian efforts or anti-drug ops, while the underlying motive remains regime change or resource control. Critics argue this type of gunboat diplomacy, dressed up as national security, sets a dangerous precedent, inviting other powerful nations to apply the same rules to 'international
waters' wherever their interests lie. What's good for the goose, after all, is apparently only good for the U.S. gander.