A huge oil tanker has been intercepted by the USA in a military operation off the coast of Venezuela, with this move being a major escalation of tensions between Washington and Caracas. On 10 December 2025, President Donald Trump confirmed that the oil tanker was intercepted. This, he said, was the biggest operation of this nature ever, with the USA taking possession of oil in this tanker.
Table of Contents
The ship, which has been identified as the Very Large Crude Carrier Skipper by maritime risk experts, was loaded with oil from Venezuela and has been known to be involved in illicit oil transactions with Iranian oil in the past. According to satellite data analyzed by tracking companies, this ship had been providing erroneous location information while engaging in ship-to-ship transactions in the vicinity of the Caribbean Sea.
Seizure Operation and Legal Basis
According to official information and sources, this operation was carried out by various agencies of the U.S., including the FBI, Homeland Security, Coast Guard, and U.S. Marines, who boarded this vessel offshore from the coast of Venezuela. Videos released by U.S. authorities show helicopters transporting personnel to board this tanker vessel. “The seizure of this vessel was carried out by a warrant obtained from a court on the grounds that it was carrying exported oil from Venezuela as well as oil from Iran, as well as a group that attempted to skirt around U.S. trade laws,” stated U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The Skipper had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2022 over allegedly being part of a crew that facilitated the transportation of Iranian oil in contravention of international sanctions. This latest move represents the latest known seizure of a shipment of Venezuelan oil among longstanding sanctions imposed on Caracas’ government-owned oil company, PDVSA.
Venezuela’s Response: Charges of Theft and Piracy
The reaction of the Venezuelan government was immediate, with it calling it “blatant theft” and “international piracy.” The government in Caracas has stated that it would lodge a protest over this move to various international bodies as it defends its sovereignty, natural resources, and dignity. The Venezuelan government has seen this as yet another example of interference from the U.S. in their country, which seeks to take advantage of their oil resources.
President Nicolas Maduro, who has been under increasing pressure from Washington, has accused the U.S. of attempting to destabilize his government and gain control over Venezuela’s oil resources. The government of Maduro has appealed to their partners around the world to support their rejection of this seizure.
“Tanker: A True Story of a Modern
Skipper, which has also operated as Adisa, has been accused of connections with illegal shadow fleets that facilitate transportation of oil from Venezuela and Iran to their destinations secretly. skipper, with other ships, has been known for using this trick of misleading people by displaying misleading identity, which seems to be an increasing trend among those ships that aim to evade sanctions. Satellite imaging showed that it was docked in Venezuela’s Puerto José for weeks before setting off with oil for Cuba.
The vessel was also displaying Guyanese flags, with Guyana’s maritime agency claiming it was not registered in that country, when in fact it was a common practice among vessels for this goal.
Suggested Read:
Top-Secret Pentagon Report Warns China Could Defeat US Military in War Over Taiwan
Australia’s World-First Under-16 Social Media Ban Begins; Teens Flaunt Workarounds
Regional and International Influence
The seizure has affected the world oil markets from day one, as oil prices went up as a result of reaction to this event. The Brent oil has moderately increased, as has the West Texas Intermediate. This move has incorporated risk into oil-price structures due to potential supply fluctuations.
Over 30 ships that are under U.S. sanctions and involved in Venezuela’s oil business are also likely to attract similar attention, sources from the shipping industry reported. This development might pose additional difficulties for PDVSA and other players in a challenging sanction environment.
Further Context: U.S. – Venezuela
A long-standing confrontation has been in effect between the USA and Venezuela for a number of years, with American sanctions imposed on Caracas since 2019 over human rights abuses, corruption, as well as complicity in the drug trade. Aggressive government policies escalated in 2025 under former President Donald Trump, which involved military attacks on drug-smuggling carriers, as well as a substantial naval deployment in the Caribbean.
Trump has also publicly pondered additional U.S. military involvement, which some fear may lead to further escalation. Members of Congress, in both the U.S. and internationally, are also worried about the implications of certain actions taken under what appears to be a questionable legal foundation.
Outlook and Possible Outcomes
This move is set to escalate diplomatic and economic relations between the United States and Venezuela, with Caracas announcing that it would continue to fight back. This move also represents a tougher stand taken by the United States in enforcing its policies on sanctions, especially against oil imports from sanctioned nations.
Analysts also note that other incidents of seizure or confrontation in the seas in the near future may precipitate other effects related to security, energy, and multilateral relations, especially if diplomatic channels are not pursued in conjunction with the policy of sanctions.
Pingback: U.S. Intensifies Venezuela Pressure After Oil Tanker Seizure
Pingback: Japan Struck by 6.7 Magnitude Earthquake, Tsunami Advisory Issued