Venezuela Condemns US ‘Naval Piracy’ Following Tanker Seizure and New Sanctions

Venezuela Accuses US of ‘Naval Piracy’ After Tanker Seizure and Fresh Sanctions.

The United States has imposed new sanctions targeting six ships accused of transporting Venezuelan oil, just a day after American forces seized the tanker Skipper off Venezuela’s coast. The move escalates Washington’s pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro.

The White House described the vessel’s activities as “illicit oil shipping”, while Caracas condemned the seizure as “international piracy.” The Skipper is being taken to a US port, and the US intends to seize its oil cargo after completing legal proceedings.

Alongside the sanctions on the vessels, Washington also targeted several relatives of Maduro and a network of businesses linked to what the US calls his “illegitimate regime.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the measures aim to hold Maduro’s allies accountable for human rights abuses and disrupt alleged narcotics trafficking, claims Venezuela denies.

The Skipper operation was carried out with US special forces descending from a helicopter to secure the ship, video footage released by the White House shows. Maduro accused the US of “kidnapping the crew” and “stealing the ship,” calling it “the era of criminal naval piracy in the Caribbean.” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello labelled the US “murderers, thieves, pirates”, accusing Washington of repeating patterns used to justify wars globally.

Venezuela, which holds some of the world’s largest oil reserves, has repeatedly accused the US of attempting to control its natural resources. Maduro vowed the country would never become an “oil colony.”

The US emphasized its actions are aimed at enforcing sanctions and combating organized crime, dismissing concerns despite Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing support for Maduro. Meanwhile, the US has significantly boosted its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying thousands of troops and the USS Gerald Ford near Venezuelan waters.

The Skipper had previously been sanctioned in 2022 for allegedly aiding oil smuggling to fund Hezbollah and Iran’s IRGC-Quds Force, highlighting longstanding US concerns over illicit Venezuelan oil shipments. Tensions between the two countries continue to escalate, with Caracas warning that US actions risk triggering a new regional conflict.