U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker Amid Escalating Pressure on Maduro Regime
The United States has seized a massive Venezuelan oil tanker in what President Donald Trump described as a major escalation in the administration’s ongoing pressure campaign against the socialist regime of Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking during a roundtable Wednesday, Trump confirmed reports of the seizure after being asked by Daily Wire correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan.
“An interesting day from the standpoint of news,” Trump said. “As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large — largest one ever seized, actually. Taken for very good reasons.”
According to Bloomberg, which first broke the news, the seizure marks a significant shift in the White House’s strategy, moving beyond prior military actions that focused solely on drug-running vessels. Until now, U.S. forces operating near Venezuela had only targeted narco-submarines and trafficking boats. This latest operation brings America’s efforts into direct confrontation with the lifeblood of Maduro’s regime — oil.
Most of Venezuela’s oil sales go to China, often at steep discounts due to international sanctions and legal risks. The U.S. move to intercept and seize one of these tankers could be interpreted as a warning shot to Beijing and other buyers flirting with violating sanctions.
The Trump administration has granted Chevron a limited waiver to continue operations in Venezuela in partnership with the state-run oil giant PDVSA. The agreement allows Chevron to help develop oil reserves, but a significant portion of that output is transferred to the Maduro government. That partnership has come under new scrutiny as Trump’s national security team reportedly reconsiders all waivers related to sanctioned regimes.
The oil tanker seizure follows a broader uptick in U.S. military activity in the region. Since September, the U.S. has destroyed over 20 vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific — all linked to narcotics smuggling and terrorist organizations operating in Latin America. The campaign is designed to choke off the financial lifelines of cartels and regimes, including Maduro’s government.
Trump has made it clear that the days of passive diplomacy with Venezuela are over. During his first term, his administration labeled Maduro a narco-terrorist and placed a $50 million bounty on his head. Now back in office, Trump has reportedly approved expanded CIA operations aimed at dismantling drug routes and destabilizing Maduro’s grip on power.
Though Maduro remains in control, Trump’s campaign against him appears to be intensifying, using every tool — economic, military, and covert — to weaken his regime and assert American dominance in the region.