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

The United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, marking a significant escalation in the U.S. pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro's regime. President Trump announced the seizure at the White House on December 10, 2025, stating it was a large tanker carrying Venezuelan oil.

According to CBS News, the operation was carried out by U.S. forces without resistance from the crew, and no casualties were reported. The Venezuelan government condemned the action, calling it a 'barefaced robbery' and an act of international piracy.

The operation was part of a broader strategy as the U.S. builds up its forces in the Caribbean, aimed at increasing pressure on Maduro, who has urged citizens to resist the 'North American empire,' according to The Guardian.

Pam Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, shared footage of the operation, which showed U.S. forces landing on the tanker from a helicopter, as reported by The Guardian. Trump's remarks highlighted the intent to seize the oil, although specifics about the ownership of the tanker were not disclosed.

The seizure reflects the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region and the U.S.'s commitment to countering Maduro's influence amid Venezuela's political crisis, as detailed by the New York Times.