US forces have taken control of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast in a significant escalation of tensions between the two nations. President Donald Trump confirmed the seizure during a White House meeting. This move follows Trump’s recent warning of potential military action within Venezuela as part of the US’s intensified anti-drug efforts in Latin America. Trump, speaking to Politico, hinted at Maduro’s imminent downfall without specifying if US troops would physically enter Venezuela.
The US Attorney General, Pam Bondi, stated that the tanker, previously known as the M/T Adisa but currently named the Skipper, had been under US sanctions for its role in an illegal oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist groups. The vessel was associated with a network accused of smuggling crude oil for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Reportedly, the Skipper, carrying about 2 million barrels of heavy crude oil, departed Venezuela on December 2. Approximately half of the oil was linked to a Cuban state-run oil importer. Venezuela’s government condemned the seizure, describing it as “blatant theft and international piracy” aimed at appropriating the country’s natural resources, particularly its oil reserves.
In a separate development, oil companies bid $279 million for drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico on December 10 as part of the Trump administration’s effort to boost US fossil fuel production. Notable industry players like Chevron, Shell, and BP participated in the bidding process.
Following the oil tanker seizure, President Trump issued a warning to neighboring Colombia and its President, Gustavo Petro, alleging their involvement in cocaine production. Trump’s statement prompted Petro to deny any ties to drug trafficking and criticize the US’s actions as a “massacre.”
Trump’s administration has faced criticism from Maduro, who accused the US of attempting to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves through military intervention. Trump defended the operation but provided limited details, mentioning that photos would be released later. Experts view the tanker interception as a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between the US and Venezuela, highlighting the economic impact on Maduro’s regime, heavily reliant on oil revenues.