US Military Seizes Oil Tanker off Venezuelan Coast in Escalating Diplomatic Tensions

Sat Dec 13 2025 10:23:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Amid escalating tensions, the United States has seized a large oil tanker purportedly involved in transporting sanctioned Venezuelan oil. The operation showcases the intensifying pressure on Nicolás Maduro's regime as the US claims that the seized vessel supports foreign terrorist organizations.

The U.S. has seized the oil tanker Skipper off the coast of Venezuela, accusing it of being part of an illicit oil shipping network aiding foreign terrorist groups. The seizure has drawn accusations of 'international piracy' from Venezuelan officials, highlighting the already tense U.S.-Venezuela relations. President Trump stated that the U.S. might keep the oil onboard, which could be worth millions. The operation involved significant military resources and reflects a broader strategy to combat drug trafficking and pressurize the Maduro administration.

A US helicopter flies low over a hazy blue sea as it approaches a massive ship. It hovers as camouflaged soldiers holding rifles swing down ropes to the vessel's deck.

The video, released by the US government, shows the latest in a series of escalations in Washington's pressure campaign on Nicolás Maduro's government – the seizure of a crude oil tanker.

The US claims the tanker is used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil has called the seizure international piracy and claims US President Donald Trump wants Venezuela's energy resources.

Here's what we know.

The operation

We have just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela - a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized actually, Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

The footage of the operation was shared by Attorney General Pam Bondi on social media. Bondi said a seizure warrant for the tanker was carried out by the US Coast Guard, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Defence.

The exact location of the tanker at the time of the seizure is not clear, but a senior military official told CBS News that the vessel had just left a port in Venezuela.

The 45-second video shows US personnel boarding the ship with their weapons drawn. No ship crew are visible.

The seizure involved two helicopters, 10 Marines, and 10 US Coast Guard members, and special operations forces, according to sources familiar with the operation.

This team is trained in counterterrorism and high-risk law enforcement procedures – like the fast-rope boarding from a helicopter seen in the video. The Coast Guard led the operation with support from the Navy.

The oil tanker

Maritime risk company Vanguard Tech identified the vessel as the Skipper, stating it has been spoofing its position for some time.

The ship is classified as a very large crude carrier (VLCC) and has sailed under various names since its construction 20 years ago. It is reported to have left the oil port of Jose with about 1.8 million barrels of heavy crude oil.

The US treasury department sanctioned the tanker in 2022 for its alleged involvement in oil smuggling that benefited foreign terrorist organizations.

The wider US pressure campaign

The Trump administration has focused on combating drugs entering the US from Venezuela, targeting criminal groups linked to the Maduro government. In recent months, the US deployed thousands of troops to the Caribbean, claiming its operations are part of a sustained pressure campaign against drug trafficking.