US Orders Blockade on Venezuela, Cries 'International Law' Elsewhere
When the US orders a naval blockade, as Donald Trump reportedly did against Venezuela’s sanctioned oil tankers (Bloomberg, Dec 16, 2025), it’s framed as a legitimate tool of foreign policy. This, from a nation that regularly condemns blockades implemented by others—see the ongoing international 'concern' over what they call 'freedom of navigation' when it involves certain chokepoints. One might
wonder whether international law is a buffet, where only certain items are selected depending on who’s doing the blockading. The US government has a long, storied history of intervention in Latin America, from sponsoring coups to imposing debilitating sanctions, often under the guise of 'democracy promotion' or 'national security.' Venezuela's economic struggles, exacerbated by US-led sanctions,
are then cited as proof of 'failed socialism,' conveniently ignoring the external pressure. This coercive economic warfare is painted as diplomacy, while any retaliation or self-defense is deemed aggression. The irony, as always, is so thick you could blockade it.