Trump warns Maduro not to ‘play tough’ as Russia, China back Venezuela

Trump warns Maduro not to ‘play tough’ as Russia, China back Venezuela Latest threat comes as US coastguard continues to pursue a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. United States President Donald Trump has issued a new warning to Nicolas Maduro, saying “it would be smart” for the Venezuelan leader to step down, as Washington escalates a pressure campaign that has drawn sharp rebukes from Russia and China. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Monday, flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Trump suggested he was prepared to further ratchet up the tensions after four months of mounting pressure on Caracas. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 Are US oil tanker seizures off Venezuela legal or acts of piracy? list 2 of 4 Venezuela’s reserves have strategic advantages for the US list 3 of 4 US pursues third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela list 4 of 4 US seizes second oil tanker off Venezuela When asked if the ⁠goal was to force Maduro from power, Trump told reporters: “Well, I think it probably would... That’s up to him what he wants to do. I think it’d be smart for him to do that. But again, we’re gonna find out.” “If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the ​last time he’s ever able to play ‌tough,” the US leader added. Trump levied his latest threat as the US Coast Guard continued for a second day to chase a third oil tanker that it described as part of a “dark fleet” that Venezuela uses to evade US sanctions. “It’s moving along, and we’ll end up getting it,” Trump said. The US president also promised to keep the two ships and the nearly 4 million barrels of Venezuelan oil the coastguard has seized so far. “Maybe we’ll sell it. Maybe we’ll keep it. Maybe we will use it in the strategic reserves,” he said. “We’re keeping it. We’re keeping the ships also.” Maduro fires back The campaign against Venezuela’s critical oil sector comes amid a large US military buildup in the region with a stated mission of combating drug trafficking, as well as more than two dozen strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near the South American nation. Critics have questioned the legality of the attacks, which have killed more than 100 people. Venezuela denies any involvement in drug trafficking and insists that Washington is seeking to overthrow Maduro to seize the country’s oil reserves , which are the world’s largest. Caracas has condemned the US’s vessel seizures as acts of “international piracy” . Maduro responded to Trump’s latest salvo hours later, in a speech broadcast on public television, saying the US president would be better served if he focused on his own country’s problems rather than threatening Caracas. “He would be better off in his own country on economic and social issues, and he...

Preview: ~500 words