In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the United States has seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, a move that Caracas swiftly denounced as “blatant theft” and an “act of international piracy.” The operation, announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, marks a significant increase in Washington’s pressure campaign against the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The Seizure and US Justification
President Trump confirmed the seizure, boasting it was “the largest one ever seized,” and indicated the US would “keep” the oil. The vessel, identified by sources as the tanker Skipper, was intercepted in an operation led by the US Coast Guard, supported by Navy forces, the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the agencies executed a seizure warrant for the crude oil tanker. She asserted that the vessel was involved in an “illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations” and was used to transport sanctioned oil from both Venezuela and Iran, both heavily sanctioned nations. Footage released by Bondi showed armed personnel descending onto the vessel’s deck from a helicopter, underscoring the aggressive nature of the interdiction.
The seizure takes place amid a heightened US military presence in the Caribbean, part of a broader campaign against alleged drug trafficking and narco-terrorism linked to Venezuelan officials.
Venezuela’s Outraged Response
Hours after the US announcement, the Venezuelan government issued a strong condemnation. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil posted a statement on social media, “strongly denounc[ing] and reject[ing] what constitutes a blatant theft and an act of international piracy.” Caracas maintains that the US actions are illegal and an attempt to steal the country’s oil wealth.
President Maduro, speaking at a rally in Caracas, did not immediately address the seizure but urged his citizens to be “warriors” and ready to “smash the teeth of the North American empire if necessary,” signaling a defiant stance.
Escalation in a Standoff
The seizure of the Skipper signals a more aggressive, kinetic phase in Washington’s long-running effort to restrict the Maduro regime’s access to vital oil revenue. Satellite data and tracking records suggest the vessel had recently loaded crude oil at Venezuela’s main Jose oil terminal, contradicting its reported transponder data which indicated a location hundreds of miles away. This alleged attempt to conceal its location highlights the lengths being taken to circumvent US sanctions.
The incident further strains the already hostile diplomatic relationship between the two countries, potentially opening a new front in the US strategy to push for a change in power in Venezuela.