President Trump announced the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast on December 10, 2025, describing it as the largest ever seized for a "very good reason."

Seizure Rationale

The tanker, identified as the Skipper, faced long-standing U.S. sanctions for its role in an illicit oil shipping network linked to foreign terrorist organizations and past smuggling of Iranian oil. A federal judge issued a seizure warrant about two weeks prior, and U.S. Coast Guard forces executed the operation in international waters without incident.

Broader Context

This action escalates U.S. pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, amid accusations of narco-terrorism and efforts to disrupt Venezuela's oil trade, which funds his regime and supports destinations like China, Cuba, and Asia. Venezuela condemned it as "international piracy" and theft, while the U.S. views it as part of ongoing maritime strikes against drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. Trump has boosted military presence in the region, including an aircraft carrier, amid heightened tensions.