The United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in an operation reportedly led by the US Coast Guard. Although President Donald Trump did not disclose the ship’s name or the exact location of the operation, he described the vessel as the largest oil tanker ever seized. This action marks a significant development amid ongoing US pressure on Venezuela, which includes attacks on alleged drug smuggling boats and threats of military interventions. Despite these efforts, Venezuela’s oil exports had remained untouched until now. Venezuela’s economy is heavily dependent on its natural resources, particularly oil. The operation reflects a continuation of the US government’s attempts to exert influence on Venezuela, which has been under scrutiny for months due to political and economic instability. The seizure was reported on December 11, 2025, by Deutschlandfunk.

Source: https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/trump-usa-beschlagnahmen-oeltanker-vor-venezuela-102.html