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By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
WASHINGTON D.C. / MOSCOW – The oil tanker seized this week off the coast of Venezuela by U.S. forces is being brought to a United States port, and Washington is openly considering further seizures of sanctioned vessels, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Thursday. This aggressive escalation in the U.S. pressure campaign against Caracas was immediately met by a sharp diplomatic affirmation of support from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Leavitt confirmed the U.S. intent to seize both the vessel and its crude oil cargo, stating, “The vessel will go to a US port, and the United States does intend to seize the oil.” She added that the legal process would be observed and did not rule out similar actions in the future.
The seized ship, identified by maritime risk firm Vanguard as the crude carrier Skipper, was sanctioned in 2022 for allegedly aiding the transport of oil for Iran’s Quds Force and the Iranian-backed Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Caracas has vehemently protested the seizure, labeling it an act of “international piracy.”
Leavitt defended the aggressive action, stating, “We’re not going to stand by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black-market oil, the proceeds of which will fuel narco-terrorism of rogue and illegitimate regimes around the world.”
This latest move by the administration of President Donald Trump heightens speculation that more aggressive actions are imminent against the Maduro government. The U.S. has already surged military assets into the Caribbean region and, since September 2, has conducted 22 known strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats, resulting in at least 87 fatalities.
Furthermore, President Trump has threatened to expand the campaign to land strikes. At a cabinet meeting on December 2, he stated, “We’re going to start doing those strikes on land, too. You know, the land is much easier. It’s much easier. And we know the routes they take. We know everything about them.”
Amid the escalating U.S. pressure, President Putin affirmed Moscow’s strong support for Venezuela during a call with Maduro on Thursday.
According to the Kremlin, Putin “expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people” and “confirmed his support for the Maduro government’s policy aimed at protecting national interests and sovereignty in the face of growing external pressure.”
Venezuela’s government issued its own statement, confirming that Maduro and Putin “reaffirmed the strategic, solid and growing nature of their bilateral relations.” This show of support underscores the global polarization surrounding Venezuela, which maintains close ties with Russia, China, and Iran, nations that share opposition to U.S. foreign policy.
Critics of the Trump administration’s policy have argued the military pressure is intended to destabilize the Maduro government and open Venezuela’s vast oil reserves to U.S. and Western companies, an accusation U.S. officials have denied. Experts, meanwhile, continue to dismiss U.S. claims that Venezuela is a leading source for the drugs smuggled into the United States.