The United States has taken control of a sanctioned oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast, as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. This action has led to an increase in oil prices and heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas.
According to Trump, the U.S. has seized a large tanker off the coast of Venezuela, which he described as the largest ever captured. The President, who has been urging Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to resign, did not provide further details but mentioned that the U.S. would retain the oil.
This incident marks the first known move against an oil tanker since Trump ordered a significant military buildup in the region, amid previous discussions of potential U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. The U.S. has previously conducted operations against suspected drug vessels, prompting concerns from lawmakers and legal experts.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the seizure through a social media post, stating that the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, and the military collaborated to execute a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker involved in transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
Venezuela’s government denounced the seizure as an act of international piracy and theft, attributing it to a desire for control over the country’s natural resources. The vessel in question, believed to be the Skipper, was reportedly involved in Iranian oil trading under the name Adisa before facing sanctions from the U.S.
Following the news of the seizure, oil futures experienced a rise in prices, with Global Brent crude futures increasing by 0.4 percent to $62.21 per barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures gaining 0.4 percent to $58.46 per barrel.
Despite the escalating tensions, Chevron, a partner of Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA, stated that its operations in the country remain unaffected. Meanwhile, Maduro has accused the U.S. of seeking to control Venezuela’s oil reserves, as the situation continues to unfold in the region.
The seizure of the oil tanker follows recent U.S. military activities near Venezuela, including the flying of fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela. The geopolitical implications of these actions have raised concerns and sparked debates over the motives behind the U.S. government’s interventions in the region.