Venezuela Condemns US Seizure of Oil Tankers, Calls It ‘International Piracy’
Another Oil Tanker Seized: US Steps Up Pressure on Venezuela, Trump Threatens Action: The Venezuelan government has strongly condemned the United States’ seizure of oil tankers off its coast, describing the move as “open plunder” and an act of “international piracy.”
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Sunday, December 21, that the US military seized another oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast on Saturday. In a post on social media platform X, Noem said the US Coast Guard, in coordination with the Department of Defense, seized the tanker early on December 20. This followed a similar seizure carried out on December 10.
Reacting sharply, the Venezuelan government accused Washington of violating international law and escalating tensions in the region. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, Caracas said the seizure amounts to piracy and an unlawful attack on Venezuela’s sovereign assets.
US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, defended the action and announced a complete blockade of all US-sanctioned oil tankers traveling to and from Venezuela. He said the United States would continue seizing additional tankers and warned of further escalation.
In a lengthy social media post, Trump claimed Venezuela is now facing the largest naval blockade in South American history. He stated that the blockade would intensify and warned that unless Venezuela returned what he described as “America’s oil, land, and other assets,” it would face unprecedented consequences.
Responding to Trump’s remarks, the Venezuelan government termed them reckless and a serious threat to regional stability. “The President of the United States, in a completely irrational way, wants to impose a so-called naval military blockade on Venezuela in order to seize the property that belongs to the Venezuelan people,” the government said in an official statement.
Caracas further said that the US actions violate international law, principles of free trade, and freedom of navigation, and accused Washington of attempting to intimidate the Maduro government through military pressure.
The latest developments signal a sharp escalation in tensions between the two countries, with Venezuela warning that such actions could have serious consequences for regional peace and global maritime security.
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