Maduro sees US pressures as a "test" for Venezuela to free itself from oil

Caracas.- The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, expressed this Monday that the current context marked by the growing pressures from the United States represents a "test" for his country to free itself from oil and be "stronger as an economy".

Maduro, who calls the confiscation of two ships with Venezuelan crude by the U.S. "piracy", thanked God for putting "this test" which was, he said, what the country "needed" to "take the economic leap" and become independent of oil, the main engine of the South American nation.

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"I know what I'm saying, I thank God for giving me this test, but we are also going to overcome this test and we are going to be stronger as an economy, as a sovereign country," Maduro expressed in an event broadcast by the state channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV). The U.S. has already seized two ships and on Sunday reported an operation to intercept a third in the Caribbean Sea, as part of the blockade announced by President Donald Trump on the entry and exit of tankers sanctioned by Washington to and from Venezuela, while maintaining a military deployment in the region seen by Caracas as a threat to bring about a regime change. Maduro welcomed the bill that the Venezuelan Parliament, controlled by Chavismo, is preparing to guarantee navigation and trade freedoms against the "blockade" by the U.S. and said that "surely tomorrow (Tuesday) it will be approved." The leader, for whom this is a "very powerful law", trusts that the regulations will "enforce the global conventions that prohibit the assault of ships, piracy and all crimes against international trade". According to the Legislative, the norm also includes punishments with up to 20 years in prison for those who support these acts considered by Caracas as "piracy". This very Monday, Trump declared that Maduro would be "smart" if he chose to leave power and warned him that if he "plays tough" it will be "the last time" he does it.