President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces have seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in what the administration describes as a strategic enforcement action against sanctioned oil shipments and illicit networks.

The tanker, identified by officials as the Skipper, was taken in international waters after U.S. authorities determined it had been transporting Venezuelan and Iranian crude in violation of longstanding sanctions.

This marks the first major interdiction of Venezuelan oil under U.S. sanctions since 2019 and represents a significant escalation in the administration’s pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro’s government.

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President Trump characterised the operation as a necessary move for national security and enforcement of U.S. law, telling reporters that “we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela — large tanker, very large” and that it was taken “for a very good reason.” He indicated that the United States intends to retain control of the vessel and its cargo, underscoring the administration’s determination to disrupt sanctioned oil flows.

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The seizure was carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard with support from the U.S. Navy, with personnel boarding the vessel from helicopters in a coordinated operation.

Attorney General Pam Bondi shared footage of the action, which showed personnel fast-roping onto the deck to assume control.

The tanker was allegedly part of an extensive network transporting crude in defiance of U.S. sanctions, including shipments tied to both Venezuelan state oil and Iranian sources.

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Venezuelan authorities condemned the seizure as an act of “blatant theft” and “international piracy,” vowing to defend the nation’s sovereignty and natural resources before international bodies.

The government called on global organisations to intervene and criticised the United States for undermining Venezuela’s economic independence, while President Nicolás Maduro’s administration suggested the move was part of broader efforts to exert control over Venezuelan oil wealth.

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The news sent global oil markets higher, with prices for Brent and U.S. crude rising on speculation of supply disruption and heightened geopolitical risk.

Traders viewed the action as a signal of increased U.S. assertiveness in enforcing sanctions and curbing the flow of sanctioned oil through complex ship-to-ship transfers.

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This development occurs amid an enlarged U.S. military presence in the Caribbean Sea, which has included naval operations targeting purported narcotics trafficking and pressure on shipping networks associated with Venezuela.

The Trump administration has not ruled out further measures aimed at weakening Maduro’s regime, including potential strikes or expanded maritime interdictions, as part of a wider strategy to confront narcotics networks and enforce economic pressure.

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