US Seizes Sanctioned Oil Tanker Near Venezuela, Says Trump

The United States has seized a sanctioned oil tanker near the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday. His statement quickly pushed global oil prices higher and further increased tensions between Washington and Caracas.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. A very large tanker. The largest one ever, actually.” He added that “other things” were also taking place, without giving more details. When asked about the fate of the oil on board, Trump replied, “We keep it, I guess.”

Tensions Rise Between Washington and Caracas

Trump has repeatedly warned Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and has even suggested military action in the past. This tanker seizure is the first major move against an oil vessel since Trump ordered a large military build-up in the region.

The United States had earlier carried out deadly strikes against boats suspected of drug trafficking. Those strikes raised legal and political concerns in Washington, especially because evidence was not always made public.

Operation Carried Out With US Agencies

US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the action in a post on X. She said the FBI, Homeland Security, and the US Coast Guard, supported by the military, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker carrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.

Bondi also released a 45-second video showing two helicopters approaching the vessel. Armed officers in camouflage gear were seen rappelling onto the tanker.

Officials did not name the ship. However, British maritime security group Vanguard said the seized tanker was most likely the Skipper. The tanker was previously sanctioned by the US for its links to Iranian oil deals under its old name, Adisa.

Details About the Tanker

Satellite images reviewed by TankerTrackers.com showed that the Skipper left Venezuela’s main port, Jose, between December 4 and 5. It had loaded around 1.1 million barrels of Merey heavy crude, according to shipping data from PDVSA, Venezuela’s state oil company.

Following the news, oil prices increased. Brent crude rose by 27 cents to settle at $62.21 per barrel. US WTI crude increased by 21 cents, closing at $58.46 per barrel.

Meanwhile, President Maduro attended a military march on Wednesday. He did not comment on the tanker seizure.

Impact on Venezuela’s Oil Exports

Venezuela exported more than 900,000 barrels per day last month, the third-highest average this year. PDVSA increased imports of naphtha, which is used to dilute heavy crude. Although Washington has increased pressure on Maduro, this was the first action directly targeting an oil shipment.

Venezuela has also been forced to sell its crude at heavy discounts to China because of competition from sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil.

Commodity analyst Rory Johnston said the seizure adds more uncertainty to global supply. He noted that while it increases short-term concerns, it does not drastically change the market because the cargo was already expected to face delays.

US oil company Chevron, which works with PDVSA, said its operations remain normal. It exported around 150,000 barrels per day to the US last month, up from 128,000 barrels in October.

More Pressure on Maduro

Maduro has long claimed that the US wants to overthrow him and take control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Since early September, the Trump administration has carried out more than 20 strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and the Pacific. More than 80 people have been killed in these operations.

Legal experts have questioned the strikes, saying the US has not provided enough proof to justify the deadly force. Concerns grew further after reports that a commander ordered a second strike that killed two survivors.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll published Wednesday showed that many Americans oppose these lethal operations. Even 20% of Republicans said they disagreed with the campaign.

Last week, the Trump administration released a foreign policy document saying its main goal is to strengthen US dominance in the Western Hemisphere.