A sanctioned oil tanker pursued by US forces turned away from Venezuela and retreated out into the Atlantic Ocean, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Trump administration continues a blockade piling pressure on Caracas.

Venezuela's National Assembly has approved a measure criminalizing activities that hinder navigation and commerce, like the seizure of oil tankers

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The White House has ordered U.S. military forces to focus almost exclusively on enforcing a "quarantine" of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months, a U.S. official told Reuters, indicating Washington is currently more interested in using economic rather than military means to pressure Caracas.

Oil exports, the country’s financial lifeblood, have plummeted after the United States took action against three ships that have been used to carry its crude.

President Donald Trump reportedly ordered a two-month "quarantine" of Venezuela's oil industry as the administration continues its pressure campaign.

The ‌White House has ​ordered ‍U.S. military forces ​to ​focus ⁠almost exclusively on enforcing the "quarantine" of Venezuela, ‌a U.S. official ​told Reuters ‌on ‍Wednesday. "While military ⁠options still exist the focus is to ​first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking,

Oil prices settled higher on Tuesday as investors assessed stronger-than-expected U.S. economic growth and the risk of disruptions to oil supply from Venezuela and Russia.