U.S. President Donald Trump late Tuesday announced what he called a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, a dramatic escalation that lawmakers, legal experts, and anti war advocates described as an act of war carried out without congressional authorization.

This is Washington's latest move to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government, targeting its main source of income.

Accusing what he called “the illegitimate Maduro Regime” of having stolen “oil, land, and other assets,” from the United States and using the ill-gotten gains to finance “drug terrorism, human trafficking,

President Trump announced on social media Tuesday a "total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers" going in and out of Venezuela. Some details remain unclear, including when the order would be implemented and how many tankers could be involved.

Around 12 U.S. warships and 30-50 aircraft positioned off Venezuela highlight the scale of Washington’s military operation.