US Seizes Oil Tanker Off Venezuelan Coast Amid Sanctions Enforcement

US forces have seized the oil tanker Skipper off the coast of Venezuela, alleging its involvement in transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. The vessel, a very large crude carrier, was reportedly carrying approximately 1.1 million barrels of Venezuelan crude loaded at the Jose port.

The Skipper had been sanctioned by the US in 2022 under its previous name, Adisa, for allegedly participating in illicit oil shipping networks supporting foreign organizations. The tanker was falsely flying Guyana's flag, according to Guyana's maritime authority.

President Donald Trump described the seizure as the largest of its kind, stating, "We have seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, a large, very large oil tanker, the largest ever seized, in fact." Attorney General Pam Bondi indicated that the vessel was involved in transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.

Venezuela's government condemned the action as "blatant theft and an act of international piracy," asserting that the true motive behind US actions has always been about Venezuela's natural resources.

The seizure marks a significant escalation in the US's enforcement of sanctions against Venezuela, aiming to curb the country's oil exports. The Skipper was reportedly en route to Cuba, highlighting the strategic importance of Venezuelan oil to the region.