The United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump confirmed, marking one of the most forceful steps yet in Washington’s long-running campaign to pressure Nicolás Maduro’s government. Speaking at the White House, Mr Trump said the vessel was “a large tanker, very large — the largest one ever seized actually,” underscoring the scale of the operation.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi released footage of the military action, describing the ship as a crude carrier used to transport sanctioned oil linked to Venezuela and Iran. The Venezuelan government swiftly condemned the seizure as “international piracy,” while President Maduro insisted that the country would never become an “oil colony.”
US officials say the tanker, identified by maritime analysts as the Skipper, has been under American sanctions for several years due to its alleged involvement in an illicit oil network supporting Hezbollah and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps–Quds Force. Footage shared by the Justice Department showed helicopters hovering above the vessel as Coast Guard members, Marines and special forces boarded the ship with weapons drawn.
A senior US military official told CBS News that the aircraft involved in the mission launched from the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, which has been stationed in the Caribbean amid a significant recent military build-up. Analysts warn that the operation could heighten tensions in already volatile waters and disrupt Venezuela’s fragile oil export routes.
The tanker’s last known position on MarineTraffic showed it sailing under Guyana’s flag, though Guyanese authorities later clarified it was “falsely flying” their colours and had never been registered in the country. Washington says the vessel had been “spoofing” its location for months to avoid detection.
Brent crude prices edged higher following news of the seizure, reflecting fears of tighter short-term supply. Venezuela, home to some of the world’s largest oil reserves, has accused the US of seeking to strip the country of its natural resources — an accusation Washington denies.
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The Trump administration says the operation is part of a broader effort to target narcotics and smuggling networks in the region. Since September, the US has carried out at least 22 strikes on vessels it claims were trafficking drugs, actions that have resulted in over 80 deaths, according to official figures.
The seizure adds a new layer of uncertainty to US–Venezuela relations, already strained by sanctions, political disputes and military manoeuvres in the Caribbean.