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US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker Amid Rising Tensions
US forces have seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The tanker, identified as the “Skipper,” was allegedly used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation, stating, “We have just seized a tanker off the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized.”
The move has been condemned by Venezuela as an act of “international piracy.” President Maduro swiftly denounced the seizure and vowed not to allow the country to become an “oil colony.”
The US has been intensifying pressure on Venezuela, accusing the government of drug trafficking and destabilising the region. The Trump administration has escalated sanctions, and US military operations in the Caribbean, including strikes on drug-smuggling vessels, have killed over 80 individuals in recent months.
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US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the operation, stating that the tanker had been sanctioned due to its involvement in illicit oil shipping. The operation was coordinated by several US agencies, including the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, and involved the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier.
The seizure follows months of mounting tensions between the two nations, with the US also increasing its military presence in the Caribbean. Venezuelan officials have condemned the actions, calling the seizure a “grave international crime,” with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello labelling the US as “pirates” and accusing them of starting wars globally.
While the US maintains its goal of stopping Venezuela’s illicit oil trade, experts warn that these escalating measures may further disrupt the country’s oil exports and increase tensions in the region.
