US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker Amid Rising Tensions

US forces have seized a large oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government, BBC reported. 

President Donald Trump described the vessel as the largest ever captured, transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. The operation involved helicopters, Coast Guard members, Marines, and special forces, coordinated with multiple US agencies.

Venezuela condemned the move as “international piracy,” while President Maduro sang “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” at a rally, addressing Americans opposed to conflict. The tanker, identified as Skipper, had been sanctioned for allegedly supporting Hezbollah and Iran’s Quds Force.

The incident comes amid heightened US military presence in the Caribbean, including the USS Gerald Ford, and has caused concern over potential disruptions to global oil supply.