The US will keep the oil and ships that it seized off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said Monday.
"We're going to keep it...Maybe we will sell it, maybe we will keep it. Maybe we'll use it in the Strategic Reserves. We're keeping the ships also," he told reporters in the state of Florida.
Trump last Tuesday declared a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
US forces were pursuing another oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela on Sunday amid escalating tensions in the Caribbean, which if seized would mark the third interception of a tanker in the region since Dec. 10.
Trump said the amount of drugs entering the US by sea has been reduced by 96.2%.
"And soon, we'll be starting the same program on land. The land is much easier...We save 25,000 lives every single time we knock out a boat. And it's over 96% stopped by sea. We're trying to figure out who the other 4% are, frankly, and we're going to have the same success, but even quicker, because it's much easier on land. If they want to come by land, they're going to end up having a big problem. They're going to get blown to pieces, because we don't want our people poisoned."
The president said Venezuela did "terrible things" to the US.
"They sent their criminals, they sent their prisoners, they sent their drug dealers," he said.
When asked why should Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro take his threat "seriously," Trump said: "We have a massive armada formed, the biggest we've ever had...He could do whatever he wants, it's alright...If he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough."
Turning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Trump warned him, saying: "He has to watch because he's got drug factories."
"He's no friend to the United States...and he's gotta watch his a** because he makes cocaine, and they send it into the United States of America from Colombia," he added.
By Diyar Guldogan in Washington
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr