The United States has seized a second oil tanker near the coast of Venezuela, raising tensions further between the two nations. Venezuela has strongly condemned the action, labeling it as "theft and kidnapping." The Venezuelan government has previously accused the U.S. of attempting to misappropriate its resources.
This latest seizure follows President Donald Trump's recent announcement of a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers operating in and out of Venezuela. It marks the second occurrence within the month where the U.S. has intercepted an oil-carrying vessel in this region.
According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the tanker had recently departed from Venezuela. In a statement, the Venezuelan government vowed that such acts would not go unpunished, indicating plans to lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council and other global entities.
The operation was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard and involved the boarding of the vessel by a specialized tactical team while it was in international waters. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared footage of the operation on social media platform X, stating, "In a pre-dawn action early this morning on Dec 20, the US Coast Guard with the support of the Department of War apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela."
The video depicts U.S. helicopters landing on the deck of a ship identified as the Centuries, a vessel flying a Panamanian flag but previously using flags from Greece and Liberia. Notably, this ship does not appear on the U.S. Treasury's list of sanctioned vessels.
In recent developments, the U.S. has intensified its military operations in the Caribbean, conducting strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, actions that have killed around 100 individuals. These operations have sparked debate within Congress, as publicly disclosed evidence regarding drug trafficking by these vessels remains lacking.
The Trump administration has consistently accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a terrorist organization known as the Cartel de los Soles—a claim he denies. The U.S. asserts that Maduro and the group utilize oil sales to finance criminal activities, including drug trafficking and human rights abuses.
Following the latest tanker seizure, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth affirmed on X that the U.S. would continue robust maritime interdiction efforts to dismantle illicit networks. "Violence, drugs, and chaos will not control the Western Hemisphere," he declared.
Venezuela, which possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, is heavily reliant on oil revenues for its governmental budget. Trump's latest blockade announcement came shortly after the U.S. had confiscated another tanker, the Skipper, which was reportedly part of a so-called "ghost fleet" camouflaging its activities.
Reacting to these actions, President Maduro criticized the U.S. for "kidnapping" crew members and "stealing" ships, intensifying the diplomatic strain between the two countries.