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US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker, Heightening Tensions with Caracas
The US seizes a Venezuelan oil tanker off its coast, escalating tensions with Caracas. Maduro calls it “international piracy” as oil prices rise.
MH
by Muhammad Hashir
2025-12-11
US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker, Heightening Tensions with Caracas

The United States has seized a sanctioned Venezuelan oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, marking a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Caracas and sending global oil prices higher.

Trump described the seized vessel as “very large, largest one ever”, adding ambiguously that the US will retain the oil. The Venezuelan government condemned the action as “blatant theft” and “an act of international piracy”, vowing to raise the issue before international bodies.

Operation Details

US Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the operation involved the FBI, Homeland Security, Coast Guard, and support from the US military. A 45-second video released showed helicopters approaching the vessel and armed personnel rappelling onto the tanker.

British maritime group Vanguard identified the tanker as the Skipper, formerly known as the Adisa, a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC). The vessel had left Venezuela’s main oil port of Jose between December 4–5, carrying approximately 1.8 million barrels of Merey heavy crude, with about 200,000 barrels transferred near Curacao to a Panama-flagged vessel bound for Cuba prior to seizure.

International Reactions

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has accused the US of attempting to seize control of the OPEC nation’s vast oil resources, amid a continuing military build-up in the region. Iran’s embassy in Caracas also condemned the seizure as a grave violation of international law.

The operation is the first known US action targeting a Venezuelan tanker since the Trump administration imposed sanctions in 2019 and follows a series of strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, which have resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people. Critics have raised legal concerns about these operations, highlighting the lack of publicly available evidence regarding the vessels’ cargo.

Impact on Oil Markets

The seizure caused immediate fluctuations in oil markets. Brent crude futures rose by 27 cents (0.4%) to $62.21 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate gained 21 cents (0.4%) to close at $58.46 per barrel. Analysts suggest the move worsens geopolitical and sanctions-related supply concerns, although it may not drastically alter the fundamental supply-demand balance, as some of the oil had already been en route.

Despite US pressure, Chevron, which partners with Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, confirmed that its operations in the country remain normal and unaffected. Venezuela exported over 900,000 barrels per day in November, the third-highest monthly average of the year.

Geopolitical Implications

The tanker seizure aligns with the Trump administration’s strategy to reassert US influence in the Western Hemisphere. Since September, the US has conducted more than 20 military strikes against suspected drug vessels, sparking domestic and international criticism. Polls suggest broad opposition among Americans, including some Republicans, to the use of lethal force against these vessels.

The incident further escalates tensions with Venezuela, which possesses the largest proven oil reserves in the world, and raises concerns about potential military confrontation in the region. As Washington continues its sanctions campaign, Maduro has vowed to resist US attempts to interfere with his country’s oil exports.
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Geopolitics

Venezuela

Maduro

USTankerSeizure
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