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

The United States has escalated tensions with Venezuela by seizing an oil tanker off its coast, an operation announced by President Donald Trump on December 10, 2025. This seizure is part of a broader pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's regime.

According to the New York Times, the tanker, identified as the Skipper, was reported to be carrying Venezuelan oil and had previously been involved in transporting oil from countries under U.S. sanctions, including Iran.

U.S. officials indicated that the seizure operation involved various agencies including the FBI and the Coast Guard, and there were no reported casualties during the operation. Venezuelan officials condemned the action as an act of piracy, while Maduro urged his supporters to prepare to resist U.S. actions.

The Guardian highlighted that the tanker had a history of faking its location to evade detection, with evidence showing it had been transporting significant amounts of oil from Venezuela and Iran. This incident marks a significant increase in U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and demonstrates the Trump administration's commitment to countering Maduro's government, which they view as illegitimate.

Amid these tensions, Trump stated that the U.S. would keep the seized oil, emphasizing the operation's strategic importance in the ongoing geopolitical conflict in Latin America.