The United States has seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, in a bold move that marks a sharp intensification of pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The operation was confirmed by former President Donald Trump during a White House briefing, who described the vessel as the largest ever seized by US authorities.
Attorney General Pam Bondi released video footage showing US forces boarding the tanker, which she identified as a “crude oil vessel used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.” The operation involved the FBI, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and the Coast Guard, coordinated with helicopters launched from the USS Gerald Ford, the US Navy’s largest aircraft carrier. Ten Marines and ten Coast Guard members, alongside special forces, were deployed during the seizure.
The Venezuelan government condemned the action as “international piracy.” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello described it as a crime akin to high-seas robbery, while Maduro emphasized that Venezuela would never become an “oil colony.” During a public rally, Maduro addressed Americans opposed to conflict with Venezuela by singing the 1988 hit song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”
The tanker, identified by maritime monitoring company Vanguard Tech as the Skipper, had reportedly been broadcasting a false location for some time. US authorities sanctioned the vessel in 2022 for its alleged role in oil smuggling benefiting Hezbollah and Iran’s Quds Force. The ship was reportedly flying a Guyanese flag falsely, according to Guyana’s Maritime Administration.
The US has recently increased its military presence in the Caribbean, positioning thousands of troops and naval assets near Venezuelan waters. Since September, the administration has carried out multiple strikes on vessels suspected of smuggling narcotics, resulting in significant casualties.
The seizure has caused Brent crude prices to rise slightly, reflecting concerns about potential disruptions to Venezuelan oil exports. Analysts have warned that further US interventions could escalate tensions in the region and disrupt international shipping.
Trump’s administration has not clarified what will be done with the oil, though the former president suggested the US would likely keep it.
