Blockade

The Trump admin is turning up the pressure on Venezuela.

On Tuesday, President Trump ordered a “total and complete” blockade of U.S.-sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela and designated the Maduro government a “foreign terrorist organization” as part of an ongoing pressure campaign targeting Caracas.

The U.S. military will enforce the blockade, which the administration says will choke off oil revenue, funding drug trafficking and other crimes. The Pentagon currently has its largest U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. 

Venezuela condemned the move as “warmongering” and a violation of international law, vowing to defend its sovereignty and continue trading oil. Caracas asked the U.N. Security Council to address what it calls “ongoing U.S. aggression.” 

CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
Christians should be committed to praying for world leaders to be wise and to work toward peaceful resolutions, while simultaneously placing our hope in God, not government.

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (CSB) (read full passage)