BY COMFORT OGBONNA
The United States has seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, a move that immediately pushed oil prices higher and sharply intensified the already fraught relationship between Washington and Caracas. The development marks one of the most dramatic escalations in the ongoing standoff between the two nations since U.S. sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector began in 2019.
Trump said the tanker seized was “very large, the largest one ever, actually,” emphasizing that the operation signaled broader actions underway as his administration continues pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down. When asked what would happen to the confiscated oil, Trump responded, “We keep it, I guess,” underscoring the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the crude.
Venezuela’s government quickly issued a strongly worded statement condemning the seizure, calling it “blatant theft” and “an act of international piracy.” Officials said they would bring the matter before international bodies, accusing Washington of violating global norms and undermining Venezuela’s sovereignty.
The incident marks the first time the U.S. has intercepted a Venezuelan oil cargo under its sanctions program. It also follows a period in which the Trump administration has hinted at possible military action and conducted an increased number of maritime operations in the region. In recent months, the U.S. has carried out several strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels—operations that have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and legal experts concerned about transparency, legality, and the high casualty count.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi shared details of the tanker operation on X, saying the FBI, Homeland Security, the Coast Guard, and the U.S. military assisted in executing a seizure warrant. Bondi posted a 45-second video showing helicopters approaching a large vessel while armed personnel rappelled onto the deck, signaling the scale and coordination of the mission.
Iran’s embassy in Caracas criticized the action, calling it a “grave violation of international laws and norms.” The tanker involved was not immediately identified by U.S. officials, but maritime risk firm Vanguard reported that the vessel was believed to be the Skipper, a very large crude carrier previously sanctioned for transporting Iranian oil when it operated under the name Adisa.
According to shipping data reviewed by analysts, the Skipper had departed Venezuela’s main oil terminal between December 4 and 5 with about 1.8 million barrels of Merey heavy crude. Before the seizure, it reportedly transferred roughly 200,000 barrels to another vessel headed for Cuba. Guyana’s maritime authority later stated the Skipper was falsely flying the nation’s flag, adding to the controversy surrounding its operations.
Oil prices reacted swiftly to the news. Brent crude edged up 27 cents, or 0.4%, to settle at $62.21 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 21 cents to $58.46. Analysts said the market was already on alert due to geopolitical risks, and the tanker seizure added a fresh layer of uncertainty around immediate global supply.
The incident comes at a time when Venezuela’s oil exports have risen to more than 900,000 barrels per day, one of the highest monthly averages of the year. The country has increasingly relied on discounted sales to China as it competes with heavily sanctioned Russian and Iranian crude. Analysts say the U.S. action reinforces concerns about supply disruptions but does not dramatically alter the market since the seized cargo was already expected to remain in limbo.
Chevron, which partners with Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, said its operations remain unaffected. The company recently increased its U.S.-bound shipments to 150,000 barrels per day.
Meanwhile, President Maduro has accused the U.S. of using its military presence in the region to orchestrate his removal and seize control of the country’s vast oil resources—the world’s largest proven reserves. His claims gained renewed attention after reports revealed that U.S. forces had conducted more than 20 strikes on suspected drug vessels since September, resulting in over 80 deaths. Legal experts have raised concerns that little evidence has been publicly presented to justify the lethal force used.
Public support for these operations appears limited. A recent national poll showed that a significant portion of Americans across political lines oppose the ongoing maritime strikes, highlighting unease with the administration’s aggressive posture.
As tensions swell across the Western Hemisphere, Trump signaled in a new policy document that his administration intends to reassert U.S. dominance in the region, suggesting that the tanker seizure may be part of a broader strategic shift rather than an isolated action.
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