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2025-12-18 13:06:46
[US Media: Trump's Strategy Towards Venezuela Shifts to "Gradual Pressure," Ultimately Aiming to Remove Maduro from Power] 1. According to Politico, the Trump administration's recent blockade of oil tankers off the Venezuelan coast is the latest manifestation of its "gradual pressure" strategy against Venezuelan President Maduro. This strategy aims to ultimately remove Maduro from power through sustained isolation and pressure, rather than immediate large-scale domestic action. 2. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the US believes the Maduro regime's survival depends on oil, drugs, and illegal gold smuggling, and the current US actions are simultaneously applying pressure on these three fronts. However, analysts also acknowledge that Maduro will not easily yield, and his stubbornness, coupled with the increased expectations of US action, leaves little room for compromise on either side. The report points out that "Maduro is buying time, while Trump is buying victory," leaving few options for de-escalation.
