China and Russia have publicly supported Venezuela amidst a United States blockade targeting sanctioned oil tankers, a move implemented as part of Donald Trump's escalating pressure campaign against Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro. Reports indicate a significant slowdown in activity at Venezuelan ports following Trump's announcement of a blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the country. The US president has reiterated his demand for Maduro to relinquish power, stating that the US would retain or sell any oil seized off the Venezuelan coast in recent weeks, and warning Maduro that 'if he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough.'

The US-imposed blockade has led to a considerable decrease in tanker loading at Venezuelan ports, with most vessels now only transporting oil cargoes between domestic locations, according to Reuters. This has resulted in an increasing number of loaded tankers unable to depart, leaving millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil stranded on ships. Consequently, customers are demanding deeper discounts and contractual modifications to undertake the risky voyages beyond Venezuela's territorial waters.

China's foreign ministry on Monday strongly condemned the seizure of another country's ships, branding it a serious violation of international law. This statement followed the US interception of a China-bound oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast on Saturday. The White House asserted that this tanker was part of Venezuela's 'shadow fleet' and was carrying sanctioned oil, although the vessel itself was not under US sanctions. Panama's foreign minister, however, stated that the supertanker, identified as Centuries, was flying Panama's flag when intercepted but had violated the country's maritime regulations by altering its name and disconnecting its transponder while transporting oil from Venezuela.

China's foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian affirmed Venezuela's right to develop international relations, expressing China's opposition to all 'unilateral and illegal' sanctions. China is the primary buyer of Venezuelan crude, which constitutes approximately 4% of its total oil imports. Concurrently, Russia and Venezuela's foreign ministers, Sergei Lavrov and Yván Gil, criticized the US actions. The Russian foreign ministry conveyed their 'deep concern over the escalation of Washington’s actions in the Caribbean Sea, which could have serious consequences for the region and threaten international shipping,' and reaffirmed 'full support for and solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and people.'

The US has intensified its efforts, including strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats and, on Sunday, the targeting of a third tanker, the empty supertanker Bella 1. Trump has accused Maduro's Venezuela of using oil revenue to finance 'drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping.' Since September, US forces have launched strikes on boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that Washington claims, without providing evidence, have trafficked drugs, resulting in over 100 fatalities, some of whom families and governments identify as fishermen. In response, Caracas fears Washington is pursuing regime change and has accused the US of 'international piracy.' On Monday, President Maduro retorted, suggesting Trump would be 'better off' addressing domestic issues rather than issuing threats against Caracas.