US Military Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker Amid Escalating Diplomatic Tensions Between Nations

The United States has captured a significant oil tanker near Venezuela's coastline, as announced by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, an action that Venezuela has condemned as 'blatant theft' amid growing tensions between the two nations.

This seizure occurs during a substantial US naval presence in the Caribbean region, which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims is aimed at forcing regime change, alongside operations targeting suspected drug vessels.

Footage released by US Attorney General Pam Bondi depicted military personnel descending from helicopters onto the tanker's deck, subsequently entering the ship's bridge with weapons ready.

#Watch | Video shows the moment US forces seize oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela pic.twitter.com/Pg4JKzY93l

"We've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large -- the largest one ever seized, actually," Trump informed reporters during a business leaders roundtable at the White House.

"And other things are happening, so you'll be seeing that later."

According to Bondi, the vessel was part of an "illicit oil shipping network" utilized for transporting sanctioned petroleum products from Venezuela and Iran.

Venezuela's foreign ministry responded with a statement: "strongly denounces and condemns what constitutes blatant theft and an act of international piracy, publicly announced by the President of the United States."

American media sources reported that the tanker was en route to Cuba, another US adversary, before being intercepted by the US Coast Guard.

Trump's announcement preceded Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize recipient and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado's scheduled global address from Oslo after emerging from hiding.

Machado, who received the Nobel Prize for challenging Maduro's control over oil-rich Venezuela, has remained out of public view for months following threats against her life.

Venezuela had indicated she might face arrest as a fugitive if attempting to return to the country after traveling for the Nobel ceremony, but Trump cautioned Caracas against such action.

"I don't like if she would be arrested, I wouldn't be happy with it," Trump told reporters.

After announcing her journey to Norway but acknowledging she wouldn't arrive for Wednesday's award ceremony, Machado will make her first public appearance at an Oslo press conference at 0915 GMT Thursday, according to Norway's government.

At the Nobel ceremony, Machado's daughter accepted the award on her behalf, reading the opposition leader's powerful acceptance speech urging Venezuelans to pursue freedom against what she described as "state terrorism" under Maduro's leadership.

Trump's administration has intensified pressure on Maduro recently, deploying naval vessels including the world's largest aircraft carrier under the stated mission of combating drug trafficking.

The United States has also conducted lethal operations against more than 20 alleged drug boats in the region, resulting in at least 87 fatalities.

Washington has accused Maduro of heading the alleged "Cartel of the Suns," which it recently designated as a "narco-terrorist" organization.

In a Monday interview with Politico, Trump declared that Maduro's "days are numbered" and did not exclude the possibility of US ground forces entering Venezuela.

Maduro, who succeeded leftist leader Hugo Chavez, contends that the US seeks regime change and desires control of Venezuela's oil reserves.

The Venezuelan military inducted 5,600 soldiers on Saturday following Maduro's call for increased military recruitment.

Trump's administration also maintains that Maduro's authority is illegitimate and that he fraudulently claimed victory in Venezuela's July 2024 election—an assertion supported by opposition leader Machado.

Since going into hiding, Machado has made just one public appearance on January 9 in Caracas, where she demonstrated against Maduro's inauguration for his third presidential term.