U.S. seizes Venezuelan oil tanker, Trump says

U.S. seizes Venezuelan oil tanker, Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on the U.S. economy and affordability at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, U.S. December 9, 2025.
Reuters

The United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump confirmed at a White House event.

“We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela — a large one, the largest ever seized,” Trump told reporters, adding that further details would follow.

The operation, reported by Reuters and Bloomberg, was led by the U.S. Coast Guard, though the vessel’s name and precise location have not been disclosed. The move comes amid heightened tensions in the Caribbean, where both Washington and Caracas have increased military deployments.

Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Venezuela over recent months, citing both drug trafficking and potential regime change. The U.S. has already carried out strikes on at least 22 suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in an estimated 87 deaths. The President has suggested that the campaign may extend to land operations.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the seizure, claiming the U.S. seeks to overthrow his government. Caracas has responded with its own military build-up along the coast, insisting its forces would resist any U.S. attack. Oil exports remain a critical revenue source for Venezuela, which shipped more than 900,000 barrels per day last month.

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