Lt. Gen. Francis L. Donovan, a Marine general with expansive experience in special operations and the Middle East, would take over after the abrupt departure of the previous commander.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday what he called a "blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers going into or out of Venezuela, ratcheting up American pressure on the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela said in response to the announced blockade that it rejected Trump’s “grotesque threat.” Venezuela deployed its navy to escort tankers leaving the country’s main oil port from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning, following Trump’s announcement, according to the New York Times.

Closely tied to Washington during much of the Cold War, Venezuela has gone through political upheavals over the years that now make it a major enemy in the eyes of the Trump administration.

The votes follow a monthslong military campaign against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

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

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio decried the “status quo” with the Maduro government as “intolerable” as the Trump administration on Friday announced new sanctions on family members of the embattled Venezuelan leader.

President Donald Trump's "America First" supporters don't appear to be breaking with him on Venezuela, but analysts say following through on land strikes could change that.