U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced the seizure of an oil tanker by the United States off the coast of Venezuela. This action occurred amidst heightened tensions between the U.S. and the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolás Maduro.
The use of U.S. forces to interdict a merchant vessel is a rare occurrence. This action follows other U.S. efforts to exert pressure on President Maduro, who faces narcoterrorism charges in the United States. The U.S. has increased its military presence in the region, conducting strikes on vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Congressional scrutiny of this campaign has been noted.
Official Statements and Details
President Trump stated to reporters at the White House that a large tanker had been seized off the coast of Venezuela, describing it as the largest such seizure. He attributed the seizure to "a very good reason" but provided no further details. When questioned about the oil aboard, Trump responded, "Well, we keep it, I guess."
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously due to not being authorized to comment publicly, indicated that the U.S. Coast Guard led the seizure, with Navy support. The official stated the operation was conducted under U.S. law enforcement authority.
Operation Details
U.S. Coast Guard personnel were transported to the oil tanker by helicopter from the USS Gerald R. Ford, an aircraft carrier operating in the Caribbean Sea. Video footage, shared by Attorney General Pam Bondi on social media, depicted individuals descending by rope from a helicopter onto the ship's deck. Subsequent footage showed Coast Guard members moving on the ship with weapons visible.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the oil tanker had been sanctioned by the United States for multiple years due to its alleged involvement in an illicit oil shipping network that supported foreign terrorist organizations.
Venezuela's Response
In response, Venezuela's government issued a statement characterizing the seizure as "a blatant theft and an act of international piracy." The statement further claimed that "the true reasons for the prolonged aggression against Venezuela have finally been revealed. … It has always been about our natural resources, our oil, our energy, the resources that belong exclusively to the Venezuelan people."
The Seized Vessel and Sanctions Context
The U.S. official identified the seized tanker as the Skipper. According to anonymously provided documents from Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), the vessel departed Venezuela around December 2 with approximately 2 million barrels of heavy crude, with roughly half attributed to a Cuban state-run oil importer.
Ship tracking data indicates the Skipper was formerly known as the M/T Adisa. In 2022, the U.S. sanctioned the Adisa, citing its alleged involvement in a network of shadow tankers that smuggled crude oil for Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group. The U.S. Treasury Department stated at the time that a Switzerland-based Ukrainian oil trader reportedly operated this network.
Venezuela possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves and produces approximately 1 million barrels daily. PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, is central to the country's economy. In 2020, the U.S. administration expanded sanctions on Venezuela, targeting individuals and companies conducting business with the Maduro government, which increased PDVSA's reliance on intermediaries. Russia and Iran, both subject to their own sanctions, have assisted Venezuela in circumventing these restrictions. Such transactions often utilize complex networks of intermediaries, including shell companies registered in jurisdictions known for secrecy. These operations can involve tankers that obscure their location and transfer cargo at sea before reaching final destinations.
Reactions and Related Events
President Maduro did not comment on the seizure during a public address in Caracas. However, he stated that Venezuela is "prepared to break the teeth of the North American empire if necessary." Maduro has previously asserted that the objective of U.S. military operations is to remove him from office.
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, commented that the tanker seizure raised questions regarding the U.S. administration's stated justifications for its regional military buildup and maritime strikes. Van Hollen was quoted as saying, "This shows that their whole cover story — that this is about interdicting drugs — is a big lie. This is just one more piece of evidence that this is really about regime change — by force."
Naval historian Vincent P. O'Hara described the seizure as "very unusual" and "provocative." He commented that the action could deter other vessels from operating near the Venezuelan coastline, potentially impacting the country's maritime traffic and economy.
This seizure followed a U.S. military flight of two fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela, reportedly the closest such overflight to Venezuelan airspace. President Trump had previously stated that land attacks were forthcoming but provided no further details.
The U.S. administration is facing increased scrutiny from lawmakers concerning the maritime strike campaign. This campaign has resulted in the deaths of at least 87 individuals across 22 documented strikes since early September, including a secondary strike that reportedly killed two survivors of an initial incident. Certain legal experts and Democratic representatives have suggested that these actions may have violated laws pertaining to the use of deadly military force. Lawmakers have requested unedited video footage of the strikes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed congressional leaders during a classified briefing that a decision on releasing the footage was pending.
The Coast Guard directed inquiries regarding the tanker seizure to the White House.