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The United States has enforced new sanctions on six vessels allegedly transporting Venezuelan oil, following the recent seizure of an oil tanker near Venezuela's coast. The move accompanies sanctions targeting relatives of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and businesses linked to his administration, deemed illegitimate by Washington. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the seized tanker, named the Skipper, was involved in "illicit oil shipping" and is now en route to an American harbor—a move Venezuela calls "international piracy."

 

This marks a significant increase in US efforts to pressure Maduro's government, with past operations leading to casualties from strikes on boats involved in drug smuggling from Venezuela. The Trump administration accuses Venezuela of smuggling narcotics into the US, while Caracas accuses Washington of attempting to commandeer its resources, asserting it would not become an "oil colony." With American naval forces increasingly visible in the region, the situation is tense.

 

Leavitt affirmed the US's intention to curb illegal drug flow and enforce sanctions but did not specify plans for future ship seizures. "We won't idly watch sanctioned vessels navigate with black market oil," she stated, promising legal action to seize the Skipper's oil. Despite heightened tensions, US President Trump reportedly remains unconcerned about Vladimir Putin's backing of Maduro amid the strain.

 

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasised the importance of sanctions against Maduro's wife's nephews and other entities, holding the regime responsible for ongoing misconduct. Dramatic video footage of soldiers boarding the Skipper underscored the US government's aggressive stance. Maduro condemned the act as "criminal naval piracy", with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello labelling the US as "pirates" and "thieves".

 

The Skipper had been sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2022 due to allegations of oil smuggling that funded groups like Hezbollah. The recent escalation coincides with the US military's deployment in the Caribbean Sea, intensifying regional tensions due to the strategic positioning of forces like the USS Gerald Ford, reported the BBC.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• New US sanctions target six ships for transporting Venezuelan oil.
• The Skipper tanker seizure intensifies US-Venezuela tensions.
• Venezuela denounces US actions as piracy, escalating regional discord.

Related Stories:

Trump Confirms Seizure of Oil Tanker Near Venezuela

Trump Sparks Fury with Venezuela Airspace Closure Warning

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-12-12

 

 

 

4 minutes ago, webfact said:

Despite heightened tensions, US President Trump reportedly remains unconcerned about Vladimir Putin's backing of Maduro amid the strain.

Agree with trump here, no way Putin will get involved.

29 minutes ago, stevenl said:

Agree with trump here, no way Putin will get involved.

You should know by now that Trump is always wrong in matters relating to foreign affairs. Russia is planning to sell 24 Sukhoi Su-30 jets to Venezuela and have sent 120 elite military men to assist Maduro fight against potential US aggression. Russia has also sent Pantsir air defence weapon systems. Trump's illegitimate attack of Venezuela will not be a cake walk and not what majority of Americans. When American body bags start to return home, it will be the end of Trump. 

https://www.idnfinancials.com/news/58557/russia-sends-pantsir-s1-air-defence-weapon-systems-to-venezuela

 

Start of WWIII? If the US is stopping / seizing foreign-flagged ships outside US territorial waters, they're no better than Somali pirates boarding oil tankers.

On 12/12/2025 at 8:49 AM, webfact said:

The United States has enforced new sanctions on six vessels allegedly transporting Venezuelan oil, following the recent seizure of an oil tanker near Venezuela's coast.

The President can declare a national emergency and use powers granted by acts like the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sanctions quickly, as it's a middle ground between war and diplomacy.

What is the emergency?

Tanker was carrying oil, not cocaine.

On 12/12/2025 at 9:31 AM, Eric Loh said:

Russia is planning to sell 24 Sukhoi Su-30 jets to Venezuela

Gee. When?. Are they built? Do they work LOL.

 

Im sure the F35 pilots are shaking in their boots. Assuming Maduro is there when the jets are ready

On 12/12/2025 at 9:31 AM, Eric Loh said:

have sent 120 elite military men to assist Maduro fight against potential US aggression.

Cool. Will be 120 less to fight in Ukraine.

 

On 12/12/2025 at 9:31 AM, Eric Loh said:

Russia has also sent Pantsir air defence weapon systems.

Yeah they work great LOL. Im sure the Israelis have already downloaded the tactics to us.

 

On 12/12/2025 at 9:31 AM, Eric Loh said:

When American body bags start to return home, it will be the end of Trump. 

Look how your Trump hate insanity makes you drool over American deaths

On 12/12/2025 at 2:11 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Start of WWIII? If the US is stopping / seizing foreign-flagged ships outside US territorial waters, they're no better than Somali pirates boarding oil tankers.

The only one seized so far was pursuant to judicial warrant, so your analogy is just the ravings of Trump hate obsesssion

It seems just a matter of time before there's a midair collision. Already twice a civilian craft on ascent almost hit a US military tanker plane, due to the tanker having switched off it's transponder. This in a busy civilian area.

19 hours ago, Yagoda said:

The only one seized so far was pursuant to judicial warrant, so your analogy is just the ravings of Trump hate obsesssion

Judicial warrant? From where, exactly. The US does not control the seas? If a US court says the US can seize a foreign ship, then a Venezuelan court can say Venezuela can seize a US ship. Nonsensical.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Judicial warrant? From where, exactly.

From a US District Court. Look it up

 

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

The US does not control the seas?

Yes it does

 

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

f a US court says the US can seize a foreign ship, then a Venezuelan court can say Venezuela can seize a US ship.

They can try LOL.

 

Guess you support terrorists and drug dealers

On 12/12/2025 at 2:11 AM, unblocktheplanet said:

Start of WWIII? If the US is stopping / seizing foreign-flagged ships outside US territorial waters, they're no better than Somali pirates boarding oil tankers.

 

Those  oil tankers are part of the ghost fleet that are violating international  economic sanctions. The tankers are owned by Iran.

19 hours ago, Yagoda said:

From a US District Court. Look it up

 

Yes it does

 

They can try LOL.

 

Guess you support terrorists and drug dealers

A US District Court! You're delusional thinking America owns the seas--WTF! I don't support violence of any kind. But I think all drugs should simply be legalised if people want to buy them.

 

Govts don't want competition from entrepreneurs because...no tax revenue. Drugs wars anywhere are unwinnable.

19 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Those  oil tankers are part of the ghost fleet that are violating international  economic sanctions. The tankers are owned by Iran.

So what? 91 million Iranians should starve? Ooooh, ghost fleet. Int'l economic sanctions, I think, all come from the US which is like a sniffing dog, up every other dog's ass.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

You're delusional thinking America owns the seas--WTF!

We do. Who else?

26 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

We do. Who else?

Who else but a war mongering country perpetual involvement in conflicts and aggression. America First policy?  

14 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

So what? 91 million Iranians should starve? Ooooh, ghost fleet. Int'l economic sanctions, I think, all come from the US which is like a sniffing dog, up every other dog's ass.

Iran funds international terrorism. Why did Australian expel the Iranian diplomats? Who financed the barbaric Assad regime, the Houthi, Hezbollah etc? That's where the funds go, not for taking care of the Iranian people.

15 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Iran funds international terrorism. Why did Australian expel the Iranian diplomats? Who financed the barbaric Assad regime, the Houthi, Hezbollah etc? That's where the funds go, not for taking care of the Iranian people.

So does the US, the FSB, Mossad aso. I call BS on Iranians not funding Iranians, too, no matter their spycraft. Just as the US, Russians and Israelis fund their resident nationals.

President Donald Trump made his designs on a potential invasion of Venezuela clearer than ever with a public threat issued on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday evening.

"Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America.

It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."

 

This proclamation provoked instant response on social media, with analysts warning this was heading to a very dark place.

 

"It is international law 101 that a military blockade is not just a violation of the UN Charter, but a crime of aggression. Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.' None of President Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack," wrote New York University law professor and former Pentagon special counsel Ryan Goodman, quoting the definition of aggression from the United Nations: "'Any of the following acts, regardless of a declaration of war, shall ... qualify as an act of aggression: ... The blockade of the ports or coasts of a State by the armed forces of another State.'"

 

 

Analysts tear apart Trump's new threats against Venezuela

 

 

 

On 12/16/2025 at 9:56 AM, Yagoda said:

We do. Who else?

Mother Earth and her servant, Poseidon. To think that any country owns the seas is daft.

11 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Mother Earth and her servant, Poseidon. To think that any country owns the seas is daft.

It was Britannia now it's us

Trump is trying to justify a war with Venezuela, saying "They took all of our oil and we want it back."

WTF dude. It's NOT "our oil", it belongs to the Venezuelans.

Like all those women you've groped, stop trying to take what isn't yours.