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Trump says US will keep or sell oil seized from Venezuela (BBC) [View all]
Trump says US will keep or sell oil seized from Venezuela (BBC) Donald Trump has said the US will keep or sell the crude oil contained on tankers it has seized off the coast of Venezuela, as well as the vessels themselves.
The US president's comments came as Washington continues to pressure the South American country's leader Nicolás Maduro to stand down.
Speaking to reporters in Florida on Monday, Trump said of the oil "we're going to keep it", adding: "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."
The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug-related crime, while Caracas has condemned the seizures as "piracy".
The US military has seized two oil tankers this month, including one on Saturday.
...
The US president's comments came as Washington continues to pressure the South American country's leader Nicolás Maduro to stand down.
Speaking to reporters in Florida on Monday, Trump said of the oil "we're going to keep it", adding: "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."
The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug-related crime, while Caracas has condemned the seizures as "piracy".
The US military has seized two oil tankers this month, including one on Saturday.
...
There is in fact precedent (not recent) for this sort of warfare. However ...
US Constitution, Article I, Section 8 Powers of Congress (excerpt, emphasis added).
... To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water ...
Little did I suspect when I studied that in college (1980s) that bit would be relevant again.
Congress, see? Not the president.
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