Sanctions against Nicolás Maduro’s regime are on the rise, and faced with financial pressure, the dictatorship retaliates, labeling these measures as coercive and illegal. However, international pressure continues to mount, highlighted by the European Union’s decision to extend the sanctions for another year.
The European Council announced the renewal of its restrictive measures against Venezuela until 2027, citing the ongoing decline of democracy and human rights, which the Venezuelan regime has firmly rejected as illegal and unilateral policies.
The impact of the sanctions is palpable, as revealed in a Reuters report detailing how the seizure of a Venezuelan oil shipment by the United States caused numerous oil tankers, including those set to load crude and one carrying Russian naphtha, to change course to avoid problems.
De Facto Blockade
The cumulative sanctions from both the United States and the European Union have lethal consequences for the finances of Nicolás Maduro’s regime and its operating agent, the Cartel of the Suns, significantly reducing their income.
Moreover, the seizure of a Venezuelan oil shipment by the US government has a multiplier effect, as this incident has nearly paralyzed PDVSA’s oil exports, exacerbating tensions and leading the regime to view these actions as a de facto blockade. The effects of these pressures are evident, reflecting a tense geopolitical situation and a direct impact on Venezuela’s oil sector.
On December 15, 2025, the European Union renewed its sanctions regime for one more year—specifically until January 10, 2027—due to the persistent undermining of democracy and human rights violations. The Maduro regime responded with a statement from the Foreign Ministry, categorically rejecting these measures, which it describes as illegal and a failed policy that demonstrates the “growing irrelevance” of the EU as an international actor.
At the same time, US pressure drastically intensified within the oil sector. The US Coast Guard intercepted and seized a supertanker carrying 1.85 million barrels of Venezuelan crude, an action that almost completely halted the country’s oil exports, according to Reuters (1).
The news agency reports that multiple oil tankers rerouted to avoid Venezuelan waters, leaving over 11 million barrels stranded. To further complicate matters, state-owned PDVSA reported suffering a cyberattack that reportedly paralyzed its administrative and operational systems, including oil delivery.
Among the vessels that changed course, the report cites:
The tanker Boltaris, flagged in Benin, which was transporting 300,000 barrels of Russian naphtha for PDVSA, turned back and is heading to Europe without unloading.
At least four supertankers (VLCC) scheduled to load crude at Venezuelan ports have also changed course.
The Reuters report warns of an “armada of US ships patrolling the Caribbean Sea,” which increases the perception of risk for maritime transport in the region.
It adds that PDVSA announced on Monday that it had been the victim of a cyberattack, which reportedly forced the shutdown of the company’s administrative and operational systems, including its oil delivery system.
Reasons Behind the European Union’s Actions
The European Council formally extended the restrictive measures against Venezuela based on an assessment of the internal situation, identifying:
Persistent actions undermining democracy and the rule of law.
Ongoing violations of human rights.
Repression against civil society and the democratic opposition, including events following the presidential elections on July 28, 2024.
The aim of these selective sanctions is to “support a negotiated and democratic solution to the crisis.” The EU claims that the measures are not intended to harm the Venezuelan people or its economy and that their lifting will depend on “tangible progress” in human rights, rule of law, and genuine dialogue toward democratic transition.
The sanctions, originally introduced in November 2017, include:
List of individuals: currently, sixty-nine people are subject to these measures.
Asset freezing: prohibition of providing funds or economic resources, directly or indirectly, to those included in the list.
Travel ban: sanctioned individuals cannot travel to the European Union.
Embargo: a weapons and equipment embargo aimed at internal repression remain in effect (2).
Response from Nicolás Maduro’s Regime
The Nicolás Maduro regime issued an official statement through the Foreign Ministry, expressing its “categorical” rejection of the European Union’s sanctions policy.
The Venezuelan statement describes the measures as:
Illegitimate and illegal: considered contrary to international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.
A failed policy: it claims that, after years of implementation, the sanctions policy has proven to be a “complete failure,” deteriorating diplomatic relations.
Evidence of subordination: the Venezuelan dictatorship contends that the EU demonstrates an “erratic foreign policy, lacking autonomy and subordinated to interests alien to the peoples it claims to represent.”
Sign of decay: European leaders are accused of “accelerating their own political decay” by insisting on a “sterile hostility line against Venezuela.”
The conclusion of the statement is that these actions confirm the “growing irrelevance of the European Union as an international player capable of acting independently, rationally, and with respect for sovereign states” (3).
“Chile votes against communism, Kast president”:
Sources Consulted:
1) Parraga, Marianna (December 15, 2025). “Tankers make u-turns after US seizure of Venezuelan oil cargo, shipping data says.” Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/tankers-make-u-turn-after-us-seizure-venezuelan-oil-cargo-shipping-data-says-2025-12-15/
2) European Council (December 15, 2025). Venezuela: Council renews restrictive measures by one year. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/12/15/venezuela-council-renews-restrictive-measures-by-one-year/?utm_id=3318
3) Venezuelan Foreign Ministry (December 15, 2025). Statement. https://www.instagram.com/cancilleria_ve/?hl=es