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 Nicolas 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.
Trump issued his latest warning as the US Coast Guard continued to pursue a third oil tanker, which authorities described as part of a Venezuelan dark fleet used to evade US sanctions.
It's moving along, and we'll end up getting it, Trump said.
Separately on Monday, the US military stated it carried out a strike on a suspected trafficking vessel in international waters in the eastern Pacific, resulting in one fatality.
When asked whether the goal of the seizures was to force Maduro from power, Trump responded: Well, I think it probably would... That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it'd be smart for him to do that. But again, we're gonna find out.
The US has been building up its military presence in the Pacific and Caribbean Seas and has conducted deadly strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, claiming around 100 casualties.
It has provided no public evidence that these vessels were carrying drugs, and the military has faced increased scrutiny from Congress over these strikes.
Speaking on Monday, Trump reiterated that the US intends to target efforts on land as well, saying: We'll be starting the same programme on land. If they want to come by land, they're going to end up having a big problem. They're going to get blown to pieces, because we don't want our people poisoned.
In response, Maduro stated that Trump should focus on his own country's issues rather than engaging with Venezuela.
Since his return to office in January, Trump has doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture, labeling him “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world.” The US has designated Maduro's government as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and recently ordered a blockade regarding sanctioned oil tankers associated with Venezuela.
The Venezuelan government heavily depends on oil exports to finance its public spending, and the latest US measures have triggered outrage among officials in Caracas.
Venezuela has requested an emergency UN session to discuss what it refers to as ongoing US aggression.
