President Trump admits US seized oil tanker near Venezuela
President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela amid a military buildup in the region.
President Donald Trump continues to increase pressure on Venezuela after the US military seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela and announced new sanctions against the country.
The Dec. 10 seizure is the latest in an escalation in the conflict between the U.S. president and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. President Trump has stepped up his calls for the Venezuelan president to step down, accusing the Maduro regime of drug trafficking and terrorism.
The White House said the administration plans to transport the tanker to a U.S. port and pick up the oil it is carrying. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt told reporters at a Dec. 11 press briefing that the oil tanker is currently in the process of being forfeited. It added that U.S. officials were questioning the crew and seizing evidence.
“There is a legal process to seizing that oil, and that legal process will be followed,” Levitt said.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed on December 10 that the tanker was used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
The Venezuelan government called President Trump’s position a “colonial threat” and accused the United States of “blatant theft” following the seizure of the tanker, Reuters reported. Officials also described the seizure as “an act of international piracy” and said they would condemn the incident before international organizations.
According to multiple media reports on December 11, the Trump administration has increased sanctions on the country, including sanctions on three of Maduro’s nephews and several other tankers that support the country’s rich oil supplies.
Why did the US seize a Venezuelan oil tanker?
On December 10, President Trump announced at a White House meeting that the United States had seized a Venezuelan oil tanker.
“In fact, this is the largest seizure ever. There are other things that are happening,” the president said. He later added: “I think the oil will be kept off the ship.”
At a White House briefing on Dec. 11, Levitt said the seizure of the oil tanker was an example of President Trump’s fulfillment of his campaign promise to stop illegal drugs from entering the country.
The spokesperson also said the Justice Department had obtained a warrant to seize a vessel that is part of Iran’s shadow fleet known for transporting black market sanctioned oil to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Three people familiar with the matter told USA TODAY that the cargo on board was owned by a businessman with ties to President Maduro and that the ship was destined for Cuba.
Who is Nicolas Maduro?
Venezuela is an oil-rich country, but its economy has collapsed in recent years, leading to widespread poverty and violence. The country faces international scrutiny over corruption allegations and an oppressive crackdown by the ruling government.
Maduro was the hand-picked successor to former socialist leader Hugo Chávez. President Maduro’s United Socialist Party, widely considered a left-wing dictatorship, has held elections deemed undemocratic.
After the 2024 Venezuelan elections, international observers and Venezuelan opposition leaders said Mr. Maduro had been completely defeated.
He remained in power.
Why is Trump talking about attacking Venezuela?
President Trump has accused Maduro of being a drug trafficker and sending him fentanyl, which has contributed to America’s opioid crisis, and has blamed the country for the wave of migrants.
Over the past few months, the regime has gradually tightened its stance toward the South American country, including deploying a major military buildup near the South American coast.
In August, the United States doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture to an unprecedented $50 million. The United States says he has ties to drug trafficking and criminal organizations.
In November, the State Department designated Mr. Maduro and other government officials as members of the foreign terrorist organization Cartel de los Soles. Experts told USA TODAY that the Cartel de los Soles is a loose, corrupt network and not a true drug-trafficking organization. Venezuela’s president has denied any link to the illegal drug trade.
The Justice Department indicted Maduro and other Venezuelan government officials in 2020 on drug trafficking and corruption charges.
What’s going on with the boat strike?
The seizure comes as the United States has spent months building up its military presence around Venezuela and repeatedly attacking boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean. The attack left dozens of people dead, including Venezuelans.
The regime says the attack targeted a suspected drug smuggling vessel from Venezuela, but critics say it is illegal and amounts to an extrajudicial assassination.
President Trump said his administration’s attacks on drug ships were aimed at stopping suspected Venezuelan traffickers. He also said he was targeting human traffickers.
Since September, the regime is known to have attacked around 20 ships in international waters, including the Caribbean, killing 83 people.
Venezuela’s government has repeatedly insisted that Trump’s actions are aimed at gaining access to the country’s lucrative oil and gas reserves.
Venezuela has the world’s largest share of crude oil reserves, according to data from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). According to Reuters, the company exported more than 900,000 barrels of oil per day last month.
Its main buyer is China.
Contributors: Francesca Chambers, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Joey Garrison, Zac Anderson, Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY. Reuters.
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And to X@Kathryn Purml. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.
