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.

Trump orders complete blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, calling nation's assets "stolen" as U.S. naval forces surround the country in escalating tensions.

It comes a week after the US seized an oil tanker off the country's coast, intensifying pressure on Nicolás Maduro.

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.

In an exclusive phone interview with NBC News, Trump talked about his offensive against Venezuela, his plan for health care and his outlook for the midterm elections.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he was leaving the possibility of war with Venezuela on the table, according to an interview with NBC News published on Friday.

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

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.

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.

Trump orders total blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers as the South American nation controls world's largest oil reserves with over 300 billion barrels.