U.S. Escalates Sanctions Against Venezuela Amid Oil Seizure

The U.S. government has escalated its sanctions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his family following the seizure of an oil tanker named The Skipper off the coast of Venezuela. The seizure occurred on December 11, 2025, as U.S. special operations forces, supported by the Coast Guard and Navy, boarded the vessel in international waters.

According to CBS News, the vessel was used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran and had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2022. Following the seizure, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the U.S. intends to seize the tanker and its oil, which is under a legal process.

The Skipper was reportedly involved in oil smuggling networks that provided financial resources to support foreign terrorist organizations, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi. The New York Times reports that new sanctions target three nephews of Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, and six shipping companies linked to oil shipping practices that allegedly support Maduro’s regime.

The Guardian notes that Maduro denounced the seizure as an act of piracy, claiming the U.S. has declared a new era of criminal naval piracy in the Caribbean. Satellite imagery analysis by ABC News indicated that the Skipper engaged in location data manipulation, attempting to evade sanctions by hiding its true location while loading crude oil in Venezuelan waters.

The seizure and subsequent sanctions represent a significant escalation in U.S. pressure aimed at destabilizing Maduro’s government, amidst ongoing tensions and military buildup in the region. Lawmakers have expressed concerns that these actions could lead to a military confrontation with Venezuela, with some suggesting that military threats might force Maduro to consider exile.