U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker Off Venezuela Amid Escalating Tensions

The United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, marking a significant escalation in President Donald Trump's pressure campaign against President Nicolas Maduro's regime. Trump announced the operation on December 10, 2025, calling the tanker the largest ever seized, and stated it was carrying Venezuelan oil.

U.S. officials indicated that the vessel, named Skipper, had previously been involved in transporting oil from countries under U.S. sanctions, including Iran. The operation, led by the U.S. Coast Guard, reportedly involved no resistance from the crew.

Trump's administration has increased military presence in the region, with over 15,000 troops deployed as part of a broader strategy against what it calls narcotrafficking networks linked to Maduro. In response, Maduro labeled the seizure a 'barefaced robbery' and urged Venezuelans to prepare for confrontation.

The U.S. has previously halted its oil imports from Venezuela due to sanctions imposed in 2019, and the tanker was allegedly en route to Cuba at the time of its capture, according to unnamed sources. The seizure has drawn criticism, with advocates labeling it an illegal act of war that could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.

International oil prices saw a modest increase following the announcement, as analysts assessed the potential impacts on Venezuelan oil availability. The situation underscores the intensifying geopolitical tensions in the region and the U.S. strategy to counteract Venezuelan oil exports linked to sanctioned nations.