A timeline of the US military’s buildup near Venezuela and attacks on alleged drug-smuggling boats

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of “sanctioned oil tankers” into and out of Venezuela, U.S. forces seized an oil tanker off the country’s coast and the military attacked three more alleged drug-smuggling boats in the region — all in the course of a week.

The Trump administration says it is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels to halt the flow of narcotics into the United States and its actions are ramping up pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S. Trump’s monthslong campaign, meanwhile, is drawing increasing scrutiny from members of Congress.

The U.S. has sent a fleet of warships to the r...