US Seizes Second Oil Tanker Off Venezuela
The Chronify
This marked the second publicly known interception of a vessel near Venezuela in December. It follows President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a “blockade” aimed at oil tankers linked to sanctions entering or leaving the country.
US authorities boarded and took control of a tanker near Venezuela yesterday, according to an American official, as Washington intensifies pressure on the Venezuelan government.
This marked the second publicly known interception of a vessel near Venezuela in December. It follows President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a “blockade” aimed at oil tankers linked to sanctions entering or leaving the country. Earlier this month, on December 10, the US seized the oil tanker Skipper, which had been sanctioned due to connections with Iran.
Unlike that earlier case, the tanker stopped on Saturday was not under US sanctions, the official said. The crew did not resist the boarding.
The ship was identified as a Panamanian-flagged tanker transporting Venezuelan oil and headed toward Asia. The operation took place in international waters and was carried out by the US Coast Guard with support from the US military.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a video online showing a helicopter hovering above the vessel. She said the tanker had been intercepted before dawn by the Coast Guard, with assistance from the Department of Defense, and noted that it had most recently docked in Venezuela.
Noem stated that the United States would continue efforts to stop what it considers illegal shipments of sanctioned oil, which US officials say help finance criminal and terrorist activity in the region.
Venezuela’s foreign minister responded by accusing the United States of piracy and said Iran had offered support. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said he spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about the situation, including what he described as the seizure of ships carrying Venezuelan oil.
According to Gil, Iran expressed strong backing for Venezuela and proposed cooperation in multiple areas to counter US actions, which Caracas claims violate international law.
The latest vessel seizure adds to mounting pressure on Venezuela, whose economy relies heavily on oil exports and has already been affected by new sanctions imposed earlier this year. It also comes amid repeated warnings from Trump, including threats of possible military action on Venezuelan territory.
The US pressure campaign has been underway for months and has involved deploying additional troops and a carrier strike group to the Caribbean, conducting operations against suspected drug trafficking vessels, and issuing continued warnings toward President Nicolás Maduro.
This marked the second publicly known interception of a vessel near Venezuela in December. It follows President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a “blockade” aimed at oil tankers linked to sanctions entering or leaving the country. Earlier this month, on December 10, the US seized the oil tanker Skipper, which had been sanctioned due to connections with Iran.
Unlike that earlier case, the tanker stopped on Saturday was not under US sanctions, the official said. The crew did not resist the boarding.
The ship was identified as a Panamanian-flagged tanker transporting Venezuelan oil and headed toward Asia. The operation took place in international waters and was carried out by the US Coast Guard with support from the US military.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a video online showing a helicopter hovering above the vessel. She said the tanker had been intercepted before dawn by the Coast Guard, with assistance from the Department of Defense, and noted that it had most recently docked in Venezuela.
Noem stated that the United States would continue efforts to stop what it considers illegal shipments of sanctioned oil, which US officials say help finance criminal and terrorist activity in the region.
Venezuela’s foreign minister responded by accusing the United States of piracy and said Iran had offered support. Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said he spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi about the situation, including what he described as the seizure of ships carrying Venezuelan oil.
According to Gil, Iran expressed strong backing for Venezuela and proposed cooperation in multiple areas to counter US actions, which Caracas claims violate international law.
The latest vessel seizure adds to mounting pressure on Venezuela, whose economy relies heavily on oil exports and has already been affected by new sanctions imposed earlier this year. It also comes amid repeated warnings from Trump, including threats of possible military action on Venezuelan territory.
The US pressure campaign has been underway for months and has involved deploying additional troops and a carrier strike group to the Caribbean, conducting operations against suspected drug trafficking vessels, and issuing continued warnings toward President Nicolás Maduro.
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