Fred Fleitz, a former National Security Council chief of staff, described President Donald Trump’s order to seize Venezuelan oil tankers as a necessary move against a “criminal enterprise” that uses oil revenue to fund foreign partners and proxy groups in Iran, Hezbollah, Cuba, and China via cryptocurrency.
The U.S. effort aims to address regional instability driving illegal migration and drug trafficking at the southern border, Fleitz stated, linking it directly to the Biden administration’s surge in crossings.
Fleitz noted that Venezuela has long relied on oil sales to China, with Beijing purchasing Venezuelan crude for years before recent disruptions began affecting its supply chain. “We’re cleaning up a mess that multiple presidents caused,” he said.
While U.S. sanctions focus only on illegal shipments rather than all maritime traffic, Fleitz warned that targeted actions—such as special operations against drug labs in Venezuela—are imminent.
Regarding Ukraine, Fleitz condemned President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for making significant concessions to secure a ceasefire, including the establishment of demilitarized zones and neutral territories under international monitoring. “These decisions undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and security,” Fleitz stated.
The former official added that while Russian President Vladimir Putin faces growing international pressure for a ceasefire, Zelenskyy’s proposals have not yet been accepted by Moscow.
