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Trump Confirms Seizure of Oil Tanker Near Venezuela

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video screenshot

 

The United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, US President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday. This significant move could escalate existing tensions with Venezuela. Trump described the tanker as the largest ever seized.

 

Attorney General Pam Bondi shared a video on X showing armed US personnel rappelling onto the tanker. Agencies involved included the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the US Coast Guard, backed by the Department of War. The tanker was allegedly used for transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.

 

A senior US official stated that the seizure took place in international waters without incident or casualties. The tanker, named the Skipper, was transporting Venezuelan crude and was previously linked to Iranian oil. A federal warrant was issued for its seizure.

 

This action may increase tensions with Venezuela, where Trump has been pressuring President Nicolas Maduro. The tanker was allegedly destined for Cuba and eventually Asia, after being brokered through Cuba. More seizures could be anticipated as the US continues its pressure campaign against Maduro's regime.

 

Cuba, currently experiencing severe energy issues, did not immediately respond to the seizure. The island often relies on oil imports from allies like Venezuela, including donations. Trump declined to reveal details about ownership of the tanker or plans for the seized oil, reported CNN.

 

The US has intensified military activities in the Caribbean near Venezuela, with strikes on suspected drug boats and threats against Maduro. Recent military actions have resulted in the destruction of drug boats and loss of life. The Trump administration reportedly has plans for a post-Maduro scenario.

Venezuelan leader Maduro did not mention the tanker seizure in a concurrent speech. The situation remains tense as the international community watches the unfolding developments.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

  • The US seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, escalating tensions.
  • The tanker carried Venezuelan crude, linked to Iranian oil, seized by federal warrant.
  • US pressures on Venezuela continue amid Cuba's ongoing energy crisis.

 

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-12-11

 

 

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Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

  • Piracy !

  • What makes you think that you can steal other countries property? It is none of your business if 2 other countries want to trade with each other. Bunch of thieves.

  • Help me here: US has sanctions against Ven and Iran regarding their oil. Are these UN or US  sanctions? If US, it would not give them the right to seize ships that were in international waters engagin

Posted Images

  • Popular Post

Next targets - Chinese cargo ships?

  • Popular Post

Piracy !

  • Popular Post

Nice work Don

  • Popular Post

Help me here: US has sanctions against Ven and Iran regarding their oil. Are these UN or US  sanctions? If US, it would not give them the right to seize ships that were in international waters engaging in trade that did not include the USA.... right? Doing so would seem to be either an act of war or piracy... Francis Drake et al...

Trump was asked 'what about the cargo?' and his typical feigned (or genuine?) ignorance... "I don't know... I guess we'll keep it"... 

Seems the tanker would be within their (suicidal) rights to open fire and/or repel force that landed on their ship. US acting like Somali pirates.... guess he wants (and is succeeding) in making US into one of those 's***hole' countries

Key words:  sanctioned oil.  Courtesy of ac/dc Cooper.

 

 

  • Popular Post

Trump announced the seizure during a White House event on December 10, 2025, stating: "we've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela—a large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, "

These Saturday SNL sketches write themselves. Classic small penis syndrome boasting.


 

  • Popular Post
1 hour ago, Rocky Sullivan said:

Key words:  sanctioned oil.  Courtesy of ac/dc Cooper.

 

 

If that’s your argument, Trump should also seized sanctioned Russia oil tankers sailing in the Red Sea and Suez Canal to India and China. Plus Putin is a dictator like Maduro. 

  • Popular Post
3 hours ago, EastBayRay said:

Nice work Don

What makes you think that you can steal other countries property?

It is none of your business if 2 other countries want to trade with each other.

Bunch of thieves.

I'm conflicted.

I want Maduro to be toppled but I want to see Trump go away as well.

  • Popular Post
13 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I'm conflicted.

I want Maduro to be toppled but I want to see Trump go away as well.


“I’m conflicted “

 

So what else is new.

 

BTW, Trump isn’t going anywhere for the next 3 years.  Seek counseling.

  • Popular Post
Just now, Rocky Sullivan said:


“I’m conflicted “

 

So what else is new.

 

BTW, Trump isn’t going anywhere for the next 3 years.  Seek counseling.

The chances of him making it through the entire term are low.

Unfortunately, that would bring Vance who is competent, not insane, but arguably even worse thatn Trump on policy.

  • Popular Post
3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

The chances of him making it through the entire term are low.

Unfortunately, that would bring Vance who is competent, not insane, but arguably even worse thatn Trump on policy.


“The chances of him making it through the entire term are low”

 

In what ways?  If dementia Joe made it the best President in US history certainly can.

 

Vance/Rubio will be next.  Democrats have no one who can compete.  

52 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

What makes you think that you can steal other countries property?

It is none of your business if 2 other countries want to trade with each other.

Bunch of thieves.

I thought you guys were all about imposing sanctions on Russia? Now they are bad? Really hard to keep up with woke narratives

8 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

I thought you guys were all about imposing sanctions on Russia? Now they are bad? Really hard to keep up with woke narratives

I don't know if I qualify as one of you guys, but yes of course sanctions on Russia and secondary ones as well. Trump play acting that he was doing that, then quickly TACOed ouf of that as usual.

Regardless of white house rhetoric, I don't believe the ship seizure is about punishing Russia. It's about his "war" on Venezuela. 

Anyway, I really do remain conflicted.

The brave lady who actually won the REAL Peace Prize rather than the corrupt fake one that was gifted Trump as a bribe SUPPORTS Trump in his actions against the Maduro government. 

Sometimes politics gets really messy.

  • Popular Post
3 hours ago, Rocky Sullivan said:

Vance/Rubio will be next.  Democrats have no one who can compete.  

Vance for term + 8 years; Don Jr next for 8 years; Eric for 8 years; Ivanka for 8 years, the first woman prez; then Barron for 8 years. You really think these dynastic ambitions are going to end. As long as there are mongoloids in the US, and they can gerrymander victory, we've got 32 more years of Rump.

 

Too bad Zohran was born overseas... It's not about party politics anymore.

3 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

I thought you guys were all about imposing sanctions on Russia? Now they are bad? Really hard to keep up with woke narratives

The US seems to always sanction the wrong countries!

  • Popular Post
5 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

What makes you think that you can steal other countries property?

It is none of your business if 2 other countries want to trade with each other.

Bunch of thieves.

IMHO it is piracy, and state sponsored piracy at that, by the USA, who IIRC were going loopy when Somali pirates were doing the same thing off the coast of Africa.

18 hours ago, Emdog said:

Seems the tanker would be within their (suicidal) rights to open fire and/or repel force that landed on their ship

The seizure occurred in international waters, a senior US official said, and proceeded without incident or casualties either among the US personnel or the "tanker’s crew.

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/12/10/politics/oil-tanker-seized-venezuela

 

That was for the first time. Maybe not for the second.

21 hours ago, FlorC said:

Piracy !

Seized under oil sanctions that have been in place for since Trump's 1st term and continued under Biden.  Tell us how is this "piracy".

  • Popular Post
46 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Seized under oil sanctions that have been in place for since Trump's 1st term and continued under Biden.  Tell us how is this "piracy".

December 12, 2025, 5:21 AM

 

According to sources familiar with the warrant, which remains under seal, a judge signed off on the warrant nearly two weeks ago because of the vessel's previous alleged role in smuggling Iranian oil. The New York Times first reported the details of the warrant.

 

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-us-intends-seized-tankers-oil-hits/story?id=128314496

22 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Next targets - Chinese cargo ships?

 

Nope. Canada 

  • Popular Post
17 hours ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

I thought you guys were all about imposing sanctions on Russia? Now they are bad? Really hard to keep up with woke narratives

Nonsense if he was a real American president he would be helping Ukraine and stopping the real enemies ships but alas we have the cartoon version and troll now.

  • Popular Post
4 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Seized under oil sanctions that have been in place for since Trump's 1st term and continued under Biden.  Tell us how is this "piracy".

You as a country can sanction whatever you want but you have NO authority over other countries, so yes, piracy.

Good way to distract from the Epstein files too.

  • Popular Post
20 hours ago, Rocky Sullivan said:


“The chances of him making it through the entire term are low”

 

In what ways?  If dementia Joe made it the best President in US history certainly can.

 

Vance/Rubio will be next.  Democrats have no one who can compete.  

I think Trump will have a problem surviving three more years

1. He will break too many laws that cannot be ignored by the justice system.

2  A bankrupt farmer with nothing to lose will put a bullet in him.

3  He will loose more of his marbles and be declared incompetent.

 

I don't know how Vance will do when he doesn't have Trump to justify any nasty moves he makes.

Despicable! 😡

9 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Seized under oil sanctions that have been in place for since Trump's 1st term and continued under Biden.  Tell us how is this "piracy".

The Biden administration issued permits for international oil companies, such as Chevron or ENI, to operate in Venezula. Trump cancelled them.

The problem it wasn't flying the chevron oil flag 🙄 for some reason they get a pass i wonder why?

Trump wants only america to be able to impose fines or embargo anyone. 

Banks can be fined massively if it displeased the United States but Europe fines his friend Elon's company 120 million omg 😲 its  outrageous do as i say not as I do 

50 minutes ago, candide said:

The Biden administration issued permits for international oil companies, such as Chevron or ENI, to operate in Venezula. Trump cancelled them.

A US federal judge has ruled that a President cannot arbitrarily cancel permits. An indefinite pause or cancellation of permits without reasoned explanation is considered "arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law" under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and can be overturned by the courts. 
This was recently demonstrated by a December 2025 court ruling that declared President Trump's order to halt all new wind energy project permitting unlawful. The judge found the administration failed to provide a reasoned explanation for reversing established agency policy. 

 

Another illegal act by this out of control President. 

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