Maduro Condemns U.S. Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tanker as ‘Naval Piracy’

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday (December 11, 2025) slammed the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker from his nation, calling it an act of “naval piracy” that escalated tensions between Washington and Caracas.

“They kidnapped the crew, stole the ship and have inaugurated a brand new period, the period of legal naval piracy within the Caribbean,” Mr. Maduro stated at a presidential occasion, including “Venezuela will safe all ships to ensure the free commerce of its oil around the globe.”

 The oil tanker seized by American forces off the Venezuelan coast will likely be dropped at a port in the USA, the White Home stated Thursday (December 11, 2025), as fears mount of open battle between the 2 nations.

Washington took management of the tanker in a dramatic raid that noticed U.S. forces rope down from a helicopter onto the vessel in an operation that Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem stated was geared toward leftist Maduro’s “regime.”

President Donald Trump’s administration has been piling stress on Venezuela for months with a significant naval build-up within the area that has been accompanied by strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats which have killed near 90 individuals.

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Russian chief Vladimir Putin on Thursday (December 11, 2025) expressed help throughout a telephone name along with his ally Maduro, however with Moscow’s forces tied down in a grinding struggle in Ukraine, its capability to offer support is proscribed.

“The vessel will go to a U.S. port and the USA does intend to grab the oil,” White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt instructed journalists of the tanker.

“We’re not going to face by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black-market oil, the proceeds of which can gas narco-terrorism of rogue and illegitimate regimes around the globe.”

Earlier on Thursday (December 11, 2025), Ms. Noem instructed a congressional listening to that the tanker operation was “pushing again on a regime that’s systematically protecting and flooding our nation with lethal medicine” — a reference to U.S. allegations of narcotics smuggling by Mr. Maduro’s authorities.

A video launched Wednesday (December 10, 2025) by U.S. Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi confirmed American forces descending from a helicopter onto the tanker’s deck, then coming into the ship’s bridge with weapons raised.

Ms. Bondi stated the ship was a part of an “illicit oil transport community” that was used to hold sanctioned oil.

‘Blatant theft’

Venezuela’s Overseas Ministry stated it “strongly denounces and condemns what constitutes blatant theft and an act of worldwide piracy.”

UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres on Thursday (December 11, 2025) expressed concern over the escalating tensions and urged restraint.

“We’re calling on all actors to chorus from motion that might additional escalate bilateral tensions and destabilize Venezuela and the area,” his spokesperson stated.

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U.S. media reported that the tanker had been heading for Cuba — one other American rival — and that the ship was stopped by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Washington has accused Maduro of main the alleged “Cartel of the Suns,” which it declared a “narco-terrorist” group final month, and has supplied a $50 million reward for data resulting in his seize.

The U.S. Treausury additionally imposed new sanctions Thursday (December 11, 2025) concentrating on three of Maduro’s kin in addition to six firms transport the South American nation’s oil.

Mr. Trump instructed Politico on Monday (December 8, 2025) that Maduro’s “days are numbered” and declined to rule out a U.S. floor invasion of Venezuela.

The Trump administration alleges that Mr. Maduro’s maintain on energy is illegitimate and that he stole Venezuela’s July 2024 election.

Mr. Maduro — the political inheritor to leftist chief Hugo Chavez — says the USA is bent on regime change and desires to grab Venezuela’s oil reserves.