Trump Pronounces U.S. Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tanker

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday (December 10, 2025) stated that america has seized an oil tanker off Venezuela amid mounting tensions with the federal government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

It’s the Trump administration’s newest push to extend strain on Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in america.

“We have simply seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela — a big tanker, very massive, largest one ever seized, really,” Mr. Trump informed reporters on the White Home.

Editorial | Warfare clouds: On the U.S. and Venezuela

Mr. Trump stated “different issues are occurring,” however didn’t supply further particulars, saying he would converse extra about it later.

The seizure was carried led by the U.S. Coast Guard-led effort and supported by the Navy, in keeping with a U.S. official who was not authorised to remark publicly and spoke on situation of anonymity.

A day earlier, the U.S. army flew a pair of fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela in what seemed to be the closest that warplanes had come to the South American nation’s airspace because the begin of the administration’s strain marketing campaign.

The U.S. has constructed up the biggest army presence within the area in a long time and launched a collection of lethal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats within the Caribbean Sea and japanese Pacific Ocean.

Mr. Trump has stated that land assaults are coming quickly, however provided no particulars on the situation.

Among the many concessions the US has made to Maduro throughout the previous negotiations was the approval for oil large Chevron Corp to renew pumping and exporting Venezuelan oil. The company’s actions within the South American nation resulted in a monetary lifeline for Maduro’s authorities.

Finish ‘unlawful and brutal interventionism’ by U.S.: Maduro

Venezuela’s embattled President Nicolas Maduro demanded an finish to U.S. intervention in his nation, months right into a naval deployment close to the Caribbean nation that has sparked fears of army motion.

“From Venezuela, we ask and demand an finish to the unlawful and brutal interventionism of america authorities in Venezuela and in Latin America,” Mr. Maduro informed supporters gathered in Caracas on the day his essential rival was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

(With inputs from AFP, AP)