President Donald Trump said a potential war with Venezuela remains on the table as tensions escalate in the region.

“I don’t rule it out, no,” Trump told NBC News in a phone interview Thursday.

Trump initiated “a total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela on Tuesday.

“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday night.

The Department of War also continues air strikes on alleged drug boats, which have taken out more than two dozen vessels and over 100 alleged smugglers.

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Trump, however, told NBC that he doesn’t “discuss” whether his actions could result in an all-out war.

When pressed further on the subject, he acknowledged that war is possible, adding that the U.S. will certainly seize more oil tankers. Last week, the U.S. seized a Venezuelan oil tanker.

“As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large — largest one ever seized, actually,” the president said at the time.

Trump didn’t offer an exact time frame for the current conflict, saying, “It depends. If they’re foolish enough to be sailing along, they’ll be sailing along back into one of our harbors.”

Trump has also accused Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro of overseeing what he’s designated as a terrorist government. He has also placed a $50 million bounty on information that leads to the socialist leader’s arrest.

The president has also labeled Maduro as the leader of Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles, which he designated a terrorist organization.

But Trump declined to say whether his goal was to oust Maduro. The two leaders had a phone call last month to discuss the possibility of a meeting in Washington, D.C., according to The New York Times.

The White House has remained tight-lipped about what else was discussed during the call.

“He knows exactly what I want,” Trump told NBC of Maduro. “He knows better than anybody.”

Meanwhile, the president of Belarus has offered Maduro sanctuary in his country if he decides to cave to the pressure.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Thursday that his government would move to crack down on antisemitism and increase visa oversight following last weekend’s Bondi Beach terrorist attack targeting Jewish people observing Hanukkah.

The Australian government, which is led by Albanese’s leftist Labor Party, is set to adopt a plan that was first proposed in July to go after people spreading “hate, division, and radicalization,” The Guardian reported. The proposal would give Australia’s Department of Home Affairs more power “to cancel or reject visas for those who spread hate and division.”

The plan would also create a “new aggravated hate speech” charge for religious preachers and leaders who promote violence and would develop a list of organizations led by people who engage in violent rhetoric or promote racial hatred.

“Every Jewish Australian has the right to feel safe, valued and respected for the contribution that they make to our great nation,” Albanese said at a press conference. He added, “The terrorists, inspired by ISIS … sought to turn Australians against each other.”

Albanese has been criticized by many in Australia’s Jewish community for ignoring the rise in threats toward Jewish people since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel more than two years ago. After Australia’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, put forward a plan earlier this year to address antisemitism and “hate speech,” Albanese was accused of ignoring the proposal and failing to push back against antisemitism following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack. On Thursday, Albanese acknowledged that criticism from the Jewish community over his earlier inaction was valid.

“I accept my responsibility for the part in that as prime minister of Australia,” he said. “But what I also do is accept my responsibility to lead the nation and unite the nation. Because what people are looking for at this time isn’t more division.”

The Australian government’s proposal to crack down on “hate speech” has drawn opposition from critics who argue it would further encroach on free speech. In the wake of last weekend’s antisemitic mass shooting, Australian leaders have renewed calls for “tougher gun laws,” with Albanese announcing another gun buyback plan on Friday to “get guns off our streets.”

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“If you’re not a farmer, you’re not involved in agriculture, why do you need these massive weapons that put the public in danger and make life dangerous and difficult for New South Wales Police?” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns asked.

The suspected gunmen who killed 15 people and wounded dozens more on Sydney’s popular Bondi Beach were inspired by ISIS, according to Australian authorities. Sajid and Naveed Akram, a father and son, are accused of targeting Jewish people. Naveed, who has been charged with terrorism, was on the Australian government’s radar over suspected ties to ISIS in 2019. Still, authorities at the time ultimately said there “was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence.”

Sajid, who was killed by police in the shooting, moved to Australia from India in 1998, and his children were all born in Australia, according to police. Since moving to Australia 27 years ago, Sajid had traveled to India just six times, and his family in India said they had “no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities,” according to officials.