The United States, under the direction of Donald Trump, has seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela — the biggest vessel ever taken in such an operation, according to the U.S. administration. The vessel, reportedly carrying crude oil under sanctions, was intercepted by U.S. forces including the Coast Guard and Navy.
The ship, known as the Skipper (formerly “M/T Adisa”), had been flagged under U.S. sanctions for years due to alleged ties to illicit oil networks and was said to be en route with Venezuelan crude. The U.S. declared it would take possession of the oil.
In response, the Venezuelan government condemned the seizure as “blatant theft” and an act of international piracy, vowing to defend the nation’s sovereignty and natural resources. The incident sharply escalates tensions between Washington and Caracas, intensifying a broader pressure campaign against Venezuelan leadership.
The seizure triggered a modest rise in global oil prices, reflecting immediate concerns over supply disruption. Energy markets watched closely as observers weighed the wider geopolitical implications of the bold U.S. move.