The United States has seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, according to President Donald Trump. The move has been met with criticism from Caracas, which deemed it a “blatant theft” amid escalating tensions between the two countries. The tanker was part of an “illicit oil shipping network” used to carry sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran, said US Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The seizure occurred during a significant US naval build-up in the Caribbean, which Venezuela’s leader, Nicolas Maduro, claims is aimed at regime change. The US has also carried out strikes on alleged drug boats in the region, killing at least 87 people. Trump’s administration has accused Maduro of leading the alleged “Cartel of the Suns,” which it declared a “narco-terrorist” organization last month.
The tanker was reportedly heading for Cuba, another American rival, and was detained by the US Coast Guard. Venezuela’s foreign ministry strongly denounced the seizure, calling it an act of “international piracy.” The move comes as Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, is set to address the world from Oslo after coming out of hiding. Machado has not been seen in public for months due to threats to her life.
Trump warned Caracas against arresting Machado, saying he would not be happy with such a step. The US has piled pressure on Maduro in recent months, deploying warships and the world’s largest aircraft carrier to combat drug trafficking. Maduro claims the US is bent on regime change and wants to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves. The Venezuelan army has sworn in 5,600 soldiers after Maduro called for stepped-up military recruitment.
The situation between the US and Venezuela remains tense, with Trump’s administration alleging that Maduro’s hold on power is illegitimate. The US has also accused Maduro of stealing Venezuela’s July 2024 election, a claim backed by opposition leader Machado. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community is watching closely, with many concerned about the potential for further escalation. The seizure of the oil tanker is the latest development in a long-standing dispute between the US and Venezuela, with no clear resolution in sight.