US Seizes Oil Tanker Near Venezuela as Tensions Escalate; Trump Says Oil May Be Kept
The United States has seized an oil tanker operating off the Venezuelan coast, President Donald Trump confirmed, signalling a significant escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro’s administration.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said:
“We have just taken control of a very large tanker near Venezuela — possibly the biggest ever seized.”
US Attorney General Pam Bondi released a video of the military operation, identifying the vessel as a crude oil carrier allegedly used to transport sanctioned oil linked to Venezuela and Iran.
Venezuela Condemns Action as ‘Piracy’
The Venezuelan government strongly condemned the seizure, describing it as an act of “international piracy”. Earlier in the day, President Maduro insisted Venezuela would never become an “oil colony” under foreign pressure.
Washington has accused Maduro’s government of allowing narcotics to flow into the US and has increased diplomatic and economic pressure on Caracas over recent months.
Venezuelan officials, meanwhile, claim the US is attempting to take control of the country’s vast oil reserves, among the largest in the world.
News of the tanker’s capture pushed Brent crude prices slightly higher on Wednesday as markets reacted to the possibility of short-term supply disruptions. Analysts warn the move could increase risks for oil shipping companies operating near Venezuelan waters.
Multi-Agency Operation Carried Out From US Aircraft Carrier
Bondi said the operation involved coordination between the Department of Justice, FBI, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the US Coast Guard.
In a post on X, the attorney general stated that the tanker had been under US sanctions for years for allegedly helping operate an illicit oil-shipping network that generated revenue for foreign terrorist organisations.
Footage she shared showed a military helicopter hovering above the vessel, with armed personnel sliding down ropes onto the deck. Troops could be seen moving across the ship with weapons drawn.
A senior US military official told CBS News that the helicopters launched from the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, which was recently deployed to the Caribbean.
The raid reportedly involved:
- 2 helicopters
- 10 Coast Guard officers
- 10 US Marines
- Special operations forces
According to CBS, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth was aware of the mission, and officials are considering additional operations.
When asked about the fate of the oil onboard, Trump responded:
“We keep it, I guess. I assume we’re going to keep the oil.”
Tanker Identified as ‘Skipper’, Accused of Spoofing Location
Maritime risk analysts at Vanguard Tech identified the vessel as the Skipper, alleging it had been broadcasting a false position for an extended period to avoid detection.
The US Treasury sanctioned the ship in 2022 for its alleged role in oil smuggling that reportedly generated funds for Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Quds Force.
BBC Verify tracked the tanker via MarineTraffic, which showed it sailing under the Guyana flag until its last update two days earlier. However, Guyana’s Maritime Administration later clarified that the Skipper was illegally flying the flag, as it was not registered in the country.
Venezuela Denounces US ‘Pirates’
The Venezuelan government issued an official statement calling the seizure a “serious international crime.”
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello criticised Washington, referring to US forces as “murderers, thieves, pirates.”
He compared the situation to Pirates of the Caribbean, saying that unlike the film’s protagonist Jack Sparrow, whom he called a “hero,” the US forces involved were “criminals on the high seas.”
Cabello claimed the US had used similar tactics in the past to justify conflicts worldwide.
Earlier at a public rally, Maduro addressed Americans opposed to any war with Venezuela by quoting the 1988 song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”, saying:
“Not war, be happy. No crazy war — be happy.”
It remains unclear whether he was aware of the tanker seizure at the time.
US Military Buildup Fuels Speculation of Further Action
In recent days, the US has increased its military activity in the Caribbean Sea, which borders Venezuela’s northern coastline.
Thousands of US troops are reportedly now stationed in the region, with the USS Gerald Ford positioned within operational range of Venezuela.
The buildup has led to speculation about potential military action or additional seizures.
Since September, US forces have carried out at least 22 strikes on vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the region, resulting in more than 80 deaths, according to US officials.