A Cabinet member in the Donald Trump administration said on the 7th (local time) that the seizure of a sanctions-violating oil tanker related to Venezuela would also serve as a warning to North Korea.
Chris Wright, the Energy Minister overseeing the Trump administration's energy policy, said in an interview with Fox News, "Think right now about what Iran might think, what Russia might think, or what North Korea might think," adding the same. Wright said, "We have a president who actually enforces sanctions and U.S. policy."
The United States also signaled it could allow a degree of economic cooperation between China and Venezuela as long as it maintains the upper hand in Venezuela. Minister Wright said, "Venezuela and China can trade, but we will not allow Venezuela to become China's client state," while adding, "China is an economic power and a major crude oil consumer. China can be a constructive partner to the United States, or it can be a force that obstructs the United States."
He added that if China appears likely to be involved in Venezuela over the long term, "it's fine as long as the United States is the dominant force, the rule of law exists, and the United States controls oil distribution." He also said, "We do not want Iran or other terrorist groups, or Russia, to play a major role in Venezuela, but we think we can strike a balance with China."