The White House has ordered US military forces to focus almost exclusively on enforcing the "quarantine" of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months, a US official told Reuters on Wednesday.
"While military options still exist the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking," the official said.
The statement could dampen the immediate prospect of US land strikes against Venezuela that US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said may take place.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the White House order was for US forces to focus almost exclusively "on the quarantine of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months."
"The efforts so far have put tremendous pressure on (Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro, and the belief is that by late January Venezuela will be facing an economic calamity unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the US," the official said.
US intercepts another vessel in international waters near Venezuela, officials say
The US Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, officials told Reuters on Sunday, in what would be the second such operation this weekend and the third in less than two week.
One of the officials said the tanker was under sanctions. The officials, who were speaking on the condition of anonymity, did not give a specific location for the operation.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.