US forces have seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said, marking a sharp escalation in Washington's pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro's government.
We have just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela - a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized actually, Trump told reporters at the White House.
Attorney General Pam Bondi described the vessel as a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
In response, Caracas swiftly denounced the action, labeling it an act of international piracy. President Maduro had previously declared that Venezuela would never become an oil colony.
The seizure aligns with the Trump administration's accusations against Venezuela of smuggling narcotics into the US, intensifying efforts to pressure Maduro in recent months. Venezuela, rich in oil reserves, accuses the US of trying to control their oil resources.
As details emerged, oil prices edged higher amidst concerns about supply disruptions stemming from this seizure. U.S. military operations reportedly involved helicopters, Coast Guard personnel, and special forces in the mission to secure the tanker.
Footage released showed military personnel boarding the vessel, with Trump stating, We keep it, I guess... I assume we're going to keep the oil. Maritime risk company Vanguard Tech identified the tanker as Skipper, which has been listed as sanctioned for related activities.
In a statement, the Venezuelan government condemned the seizure as a grave international crime, asserting their right to control their natural resources. Tensions in the region have escalated, with the US recently increasing its military presence in the Caribbean, raising concerns of potential military actions.
