Venezuela has condemned the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off its coast, describing the action as "blatant theft" and "international piracy." The move marks a sharp escalation in Washington-Caracas tensions, as Venezuelan officials vow to contest the seizure through international bodies.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the operation on Wednesday, calling it the "largest one ever seized."
British maritime risk management group Vanguard said the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Skipper was believed to have been seized off Venezuela early on Wednesday.
However, Trump administration officials did not name the vessel or disclose its location at the time of the seizure.
The vessel, which had been sanctioned by the U.S. for transporting oil linked to both Venezuela and Iran, was targeted under a federal seizure warrant. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi explained that the vessel was involved in what Washington calls an "illicit, terrorism-linked shipping network."
Bondi posted on X that the FBI, Homeland Security and Coast Guard, along with support from the U.S. military, carried out a seizure warrant for a crude tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
A 45-second video posted by Bondi showed two helicopters approaching a vessel and armed individuals in camouflage rappelling onto it.
Iran's embassy in Caracas condemned the action as a "grave violation of international laws and norms" in a post on X on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, President Trump said, "As you probably know, we've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. Large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized actually."
He added that "other things are happening," without providing further details.
The Skipper left Venezuela's main oil port of Jose between 4 and 5 December after loading some 1.8 million barrels of Venezuela's Merey heavy crude. It transferred about 200,000 barrels near Curacao to the Panama-flagged Neptune 6 bound for Cuba before the seizure, according to satellite information analysed by TankerTrackers.com and internal data from Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.
When asked about the fate of the oil on the ship, Trump responded, "Well, we keep it. I guess."
Ongoing pressure
The incident is expected to further strain relations between the two countries, particularly as it comes amid Venezuela's ongoing struggles under U.S. sanctions.
In recent months, the U.S. has carried out more than 20 strikes on vessels it claims are involved in drug smuggling, with deadly results. These operations have raised legal and human rights concerns, with many questioning the legality of the strikes.
In addition, U.S. military aircraft have been stationed in Puerto Rico, where surveillance and transport units are supporting the broader regional buildup. The move is part of what U.S. officials describe as “enhanced readiness” in the Caribbean basin.
These developments come at a time when Venezuela’s oil exports are reaching some of their highest levels of the year, despite facing intense U.S. sanctions and growing competition from other sanctioned oil producers.
The seizure of the tanker and the increased U.S. military presence signal Washington’s continued determination to apply pressure on Maduro’s government and limit Venezuela’s oil exports. This latest escalation highlights the deepening geopolitical divide between the two nations, with Venezuela vowing to resist further U.S. actions.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the country’s expanding gas exports to Europe and its ...
Rising tensions in the Middle East are beginning to affect Kazakhstan’s economy and citizens, disrupting grain trade across the Caspian Sea a...
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sheh...
How do political narratives travel from Moscow to Westminster?...
Israeli troops have moved further into southern Lebanon, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday, as the c...
Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Ankara is ready to help reinforce the ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, as clashes between the two neighbours continue for a sixth consecutive day.
Israeli troops have moved further into southern Lebanon, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said on Tuesday, as the country continued strikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon.
Azerbaijan's Astara border has become a key corridor for people wanting to leave Iran. More than 600 foreign nationals have been walking through the frontier this week amid the war in the Middle East.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 4th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
U.S. first lady, Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday (2 March), a move criticised by Iran as hypocritical following U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered a UN warning about risks to children.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov following recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on targets in Iran, as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.
A torpedo from a U.S. submarine has sunk an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth told reporters. The Sri Lankan navy carried out a rescue operation for dozens of sailors in the wake of the strike.
The U.S. embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones resulting in a limited fire and some material damage, the kingdom's defence ministry said in a post on X on Tuesday, citing an initial assessment.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 4th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Strikes across the Middle East are intensifying, fuelling travel disruption, driving up global energy prices and forcing diplomatic missions to shut their doors.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States has a “virtually unlimited supply” of munitions and is capable of sustaining military action indefinitely, as the conflict with Iran entered its fourth day.
The United Nations has called for an investigation into a deadly attack on a girls’ primary school in Iran, which Iranian officials say has killed more than 100 children. The U.S. has said its forces “would not” deliberately target a school.
U.S. first lady, Melania Trump chaired a UN Security Council meeting on children and education in conflict on Monday (2 March), a move criticised by Iran as hypocritical following U.S. and Israeli strikes that triggered a UN warning about risks to children.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment