White House Defends Tanker Seizure, Says Venezuela Elections Are Premature

Officials declined to verify reports that Washington pressed Caracas to curb relations with Russia, China, Iran, Cuba.

Overview

White House press secretary Caroline Livitt said it is too early to discuss presidential elections in Venezuela.
Livitt described the U.S. capture of the Russian‑flagged tanker Marinera as enforcement of an embargo on the shadow fleet moving Venezuelan oil, with legality determinations to be made by the United States.
She refused to confirm or deny leaked accounts from a closed briefing by Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding demands that Venezuela sever foreign ties.
The New York Times, citing unnamed U.S. officials, previously reported U.S. pressure on the interim Venezuelan government to expel advisers from Russia, China, Iran and Cuba.
Livitt said President Trump expects his personal relationships with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping to endure and reaffirmed an assertive “peace through strength” foreign policy posture.