Venezuela’s dispute with the oil giant ExxonMobil is intensifying. On Wednesday, a U.S. federal judge upheld a court ruling freezing the Venezuelan state oil company’s foreign assets and bank accounts. ExxonMobil won the order as part of an attempt to recoup an investment in a nationalized Venezuelan oil project. More than $12 billion in Venezuelan assets were frozen, even though Exxon’s investment was valued at between two to four billion. The order came hours after the State Department voiced its support for ExxonMobil in the standoff. Meanwhile, in Venezuela, demonstrators marched on the British embassy in protest of ExxonMobil. Venezuelan energy minister Rafael Ramirez accused the company of undermining Venezuelan sovereignty.

Venezuelan energy minister Rafael Ramirez: “The transnational company, ExxonMobil, is not happy with our government. We care very little what ExxonMobil thinks of our government. Our government answers to the Venezuelan people, its workers and its institutions.”

Venezuela suspended oil sales to ExxonMobil earlier this week.