Washington: White House adviser Stephen Miller on Wednesday accused Venezuela of expropriating American oil industry assets to fund "terrorism" and "drug trafficking." Miller, who serves as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor, claimed that American efforts were instrumental in creating Venezuela's oil industry.

According to Anadolu Agency, Miller described Caracas' actions as a "tyrannical expropriation," labeling it the "largest recorded theft of American wealth and property." He expressed these views on the US social media platform X, asserting that the seized assets were utilized to support terrorism and contribute to drug-related violence.

Miller's statements came in the wake of US President Donald Trump's declaration of a "total and complete blockade" on sanctioned oil tankers entering or exiting Venezuela. This decision was met with strong opposition from Venezuela, which condemned it as a breach of international law. President Nicolas Maduro warned of the potential for a "new Vietnam" if tensions continue to escalate.

The accusations and subsequent blockade are part of a broader US pressure campaign against Venezuela, which has been ongoing for months. Trump has consistently demanded that Maduro relinquish power, maintaining that all options, including military intervention, remain viable amid a significant military buildup in the region.

Since September, the US has conducted 25 known strikes on alleged "narco-terrorist" seaborne vessels, resulting in the deaths of 95 individuals in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean. The situation intensified further when US forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast on December 10, an action that Caracas condemned as "international piracy."