On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced that the United States has successfully seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. This bold move comes as tensions escalate with President Nicolás Maduro's government, which has been accused of narcoterrorism in the U.S. The seizure of a merchant ship using U.S. military forces is a rare occurrence and signifies the Trump administration's intensified efforts to apply pressure on Maduro.
The United States has significantly increased its military presence in the region, marking the largest buildup in decades. This includes a series of targeted strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. However, this campaign has come under scrutiny from Congress, which is questioning the rationale behind these military operations.
During a press conference at the White House, Trump stated, "We've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized." He emphasized that the action was taken for "a very good reason," though he did not elaborate on the specifics. When asked about the oil aboard the tanker, he casually remarked, "Well, we keep it, I guess."
The seizure was primarily executed by the U.S. Coast Guard, with support from the Navy. According to a U.S. official who requested anonymity, the operation was conducted under U.S. law enforcement authority. Coast Guard personnel were transported to the tanker by helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which has been stationed in the Caribbean Sea as part of a show of military force.
Video footage shared by Attorney General Pam Bondi shows Coast Guard members descending from helicopters and moving through the ship's superstructure with weapons drawn. Bondi noted that the seized oil tanker had been under U.S. sanctions for several years due to its involvement in a network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.
The Venezuelan government reacted strongly, labeling the seizure as "a blatant theft" and an act of "international piracy." Their official statement asserted that the true motives behind the U.S. aggression are rooted in the desire to control Venezuela's natural resources, particularly its oil. "It has always been about our natural resources, our oil, our energy," the statement declared.
The tanker, identified as the Skipper, departed Venezuela in early December carrying approximately 2 million barrels of heavy crude oil. Notably, about half of this cargo is tied to a Cuban state-run oil importer. The Skipper was previously known as the M/T Adisa, which was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 for its alleged ties to a network of shadow tankers smuggling oil for Iran's Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah.
Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, producing roughly 1 million barrels per day, with Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) serving as the backbone of its economy. The U.S. sanctions, intensified during the Trump administration's maximum-pressure campaign, have forced Venezuela to rely on intermediaries for oil transactions, complicating their operations further.
In a speech at a ruling-party demonstration in Caracas, Maduro did not directly address the tanker seizure but asserted that Venezuela is ready to "break the teeth of the North American empire" if necessary. He has consistently claimed that U.S. military operations aim to oust him from power.
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voiced skepticism about the administration's stated reasons for military actions, claiming that the seizure undermines the narrative that it is solely about drug interdiction. "This is just one more piece of evidence that this is really about regime change—by force," he stated.
Naval historian Vincent P. O'Hara described the seizure as unusual and provocative, suggesting it could deter maritime traffic along Venezuela's coast, which may further cripple the nation's economy. This operation comes on the heels of U.S. military flights over the Gulf of Venezuela, indicating an escalation in military activities near the country's airspace.
The Trump administration is facing increasing scrutiny regarding its military campaign, which has reportedly resulted in numerous casualties during strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels. Lawmakers have called for transparency, demanding unedited footage of the operations, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth deliberates on whether to release such information.
As the situation develops, the implications of the tanker seizure and the broader U.S. military strategy against Venezuela continue to raise questions about international law and the potential for further conflict in the region.