US seizes oil tanker last docked in Venezuela amid tensions

(MENAFN) The United States seized an oil tanker on Saturday that was last docked in Venezuela, the American Homeland Security chief announced. The Coast Guard carried out the operation before dawn with support from the Pentagon, Kristi Noem wrote on the social media platform X.

“The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you,” Noem added.

Venezuelan officials condemned the seizure, describing it as “theft and kidnapping” and warning that such acts “will not go unpunished.” Caracas stated that it intends to pursue all corresponding actions, including filing complaints with the UN Security Council and other multilateral organizations.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. US President Donald Trump had previously declared a “total and complete blockade” on sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. The standoff intensified on December 10, when US forces seized another sanctioned tanker near the Venezuelan coast, an action Venezuela denounced as “international piracy.”

Washington asserts that these measures are aimed at combating corruption and drug trafficking, while Caracas accuses the US of using anti-narcotics efforts as a pretext to undermine Maduro’s government and gain control over Venezuela’s oil resources.

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