U.S. Seizes Massive Oil Tanker Near Venezuela, Trump Confirms Amid Rising Tensions

The United States has seized a massive oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday — a move likely to further intensify the already fraught relationship between Washington and Caracas.

“We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela — a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized, actually,” Trump said at the outset of a White House roundtable with business leaders.

He hinted at further developments, adding, “Other things are happening. You’ll be seeing that later, and you’ll be talking about that with some other people.”

Trump did not provide additional details about the vessel or the operation.

The announcement comes just one day before Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado is expected to address the world from Oslo after emerging from nearly a year in hiding.

Under Trump’s leadership, Washington has dramatically escalated pressure on President Nicolás Maduro.

The administration deployed warships and the world’s largest aircraft to the region under the stated mission of combating drug trafficking. U.S. forces have also carried out lethal strikes against more than 20 suspected narcotics boats, resulting in at least 87 deaths.

The U.S. government accuses Maduro of heading the so-called “Cartel of the Suns,” which Washington designated as a terrorist organization last month.

Speaking to Politico on Monday, Trump warned that Maduro’s “days are numbered” and pointedly refused to rule out a possible ground invasion of Venezuela.

Maduro, in response, insists the United States is pursuing regime change to gain control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Anticipating further escalation, Venezuela sworn in 5,600 new soldiers on Saturday following Maduro’s call for accelerated military recruitment.