Washington (TDI): The United States has seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday, a move that has pushed oil prices higher and heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas.
“We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a very large one, the largest ever, actually,” Trump said, reiterating his pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down. When asked about the oil onboard, he responded, “We keep it, I guess,” according to Reuters.
This marks the first known action against an oil tanker since Trump ordered a major military buildup in the region. While the US has previously targeted vessels suspected of transporting drugs, the seizure of an oil tanker adds a new dimension to the administration’s pressure on Maduro.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the FBI, Homeland Security, and Coast Guard, with military support, executed a seizure warrant on a tanker transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. A 45-second video posted by Bondi showed helicopters approaching the vessel and armed personnel rappelling onto it.
Read More: Venezuela Urges OPEC for Support as US Pressure Intensifies
Although the US did not name the tanker, British maritime analysts believe it was the Skipper, previously known as the Adisa, which left Venezuela’s Jose oil port between December 4 and 5 carrying roughly 1.1 million barrels of Merey heavy crude. Washington had sanctioned the tanker for involvement in Iranian oil trading.
The announcement triggered a modest rise in oil futures. Brent crude added 27 cents to $62.21 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 21 cents to close at $58.46.
Read More: Maduro Returns Publicly, Trump Speaks with Venezuelan President
Venezuelan President Maduro did not directly address the seizure during a public event commemorating a military battle. Venezuela exported more than 900,000 barrels per day last month, despite US sanctions, and has been offering steep discounts to China due to competition with sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil.
