Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez stated this Wednesday that "there will be no oil given away or stolen for any foreign power."

In a social media interaction, the Venezuelan vice president recalled that Venezuela's first oil company, Petrolia del Táchira, established in 1878, "was founded with exclusively Venezuelan personnel," which was "a distinctive feature of our industry."

Rodríguez asserted there were "potholes" in the South American nation's history where the U.S. "managed to control puppet governments for the handing over of our energy resources." However, that "ended with Commander Hugo Chávez, who declared 'Full Oil Sovereignty' in 2004, putting an end to the privatization of that industry."

"We will never again be an energy colony"

"We will never again be an energy colony of anyone or any foreign power that dreams of stealing our wealth," warned the Minister of Hydrocarbons.

Rodríguez rejected a post on X by U.S. National Security Advisor Stephen Miller, who claimed that "American sweat, ingenuity, and labor created the oil industry in Venezuela" and that "its tyrannical expropriation was the largest recorded theft of American wealth and property."

Venezuela to Maintain Oil Exports Despite Trump's "Illegal Blockade"

"The interesting thing about his statements is that, like a good criminal, he confesses his misdeeds," said the vice president, who added, "There will be no oil given away or stolen for any foreign power. We will continue to be free and independent in our energy relations."

Earlier, Rodríguez also stated that Venezuela's crude oil and derivative export operations are proceeding normally under "secure schemes and full guarantees," one day after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a "total blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the South American country, as an escalation in U.S. military aggressions in the region.

Regarding this, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López warned that the increase in hostilities in the Caribbean risks "global energy stability" and labeled Trump's order to blockade oil tankers a "vulgar act of piracy."

Summary of U.S. Aggression in the Caribbean

Military Deployment: Since last August, the U.S. has maintained a significant military force deployed off the coast of Venezuela, justifying it as part of the anti-drug fight. Washington later announced Operation Southern Lance, with the official purpose of "eliminating narcoterrorists" from the Western Hemisphere and "protecting the U.S. from the drugs that are killing" its citizens. Trump has also stated that, for these purposes, he will soon launch aggressions "on land."

Lethal Operations: As part of these operations, bombings have been carried out against alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in more than 80 deaths, and with no proof that they were actually trafficking narcotics.

Assault on Oil Tanker: In an escalation of violent U.S. actions in the region, U.S. military personnel assaulted an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast. Caracas cataloged the event as a "blatant robbery" and an "act of international piracy." Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro labeled the situation an "absolutely criminal and illegal act" and accused the White House of acting "like Caribbean pirates against a merchant, commercial, civilian, private vessel, a vessel of peace."

Total Blockade: President Donald Trump ordered the "total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela." Furthermore, he accused the Venezuelan government of "using oil, land, and other assets," supposedly "stolen from the U.S.," to finance "narcoterrorism." Consequently, he designated the Maduro Administration as a "foreign terrorist organization."

Accusations and Reward: Washington has accused, without presenting evidence, the Venezuelan leader of leading a drug trafficking cartel and has doubled the reward for his capture.

Caracas's Stance: Maduro denounces that the real U.S. objective is "regime change" to take control of Venezuela's immense oil and gas wealth. "Their mask has fallen off, drug trafficking is 'fake news,' it's the oil they want to steal," he expressed following the assault on the tanker carrying Venezuelan crude in Caribbean waters.

Lack of Foundation: The UN and the DEA itself indicate that Venezuela is not a main route for drug trafficking to U.S. soil, as over 80% of drugs use the Pacific route.

International Condemnation: Russia, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the governments of Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil have condemned the U.S. actions. Experts qualify the attacks on vessels as "summary executions" that violate international law. (CubaSí)