(Caracas, 21st) Venezuelan Vice President and Oil Minister Rodriguez on the 20th condemned the United States for committing 'theft and hijacking' against private vessels carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters.
Rodriguez issued a government statement via social media, stating that this serious 'act of piracy' violates international law. He asserted that the colonialist model the US government is attempting to impose on Venezuela is destined to fail. The Venezuelan government will appeal to the United Nations Security Council and other multilateral bodies for appropriate action.
The US intercepted and detained a vessel in international waters off the Venezuelan coast on the 20th. This is the second time in recent weeks that the US has seized a sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela, with Washington currently deploying large-scale military forces in the region. A few days ago, President Trump announced a 'blockade' on all sanctioned oil tankers.
Rodriguez issued a government statement via social media, stating that this serious 'act of piracy' violates international law. He asserted that the colonialist model the US government is attempting to impose on Venezuela is destined to fail. The Venezuelan government will appeal to the United Nations Security Council and other multilateral bodies for appropriate action.
The US intercepted and detained a vessel in international waters off the Venezuelan coast on the 20th. This is the second time in recent weeks that the US has seized a sanctioned oil tanker near Venezuela, with Washington currently deploying large-scale military forces in the region. A few days ago, President Trump announced a 'blockade' on all sanctioned oil tankers.
US Secretary of Homeland Security, Noem, posted on the social platform X: 'In a pre-dawn operation on December 20th, the US Coast Guard, with support from the Department of Defense, intercepted an oil tanker that had previously docked in Venezuela.'
The post included almost 8 minutes of aerial footage, showing a helicopter hovering above the deck of a large oil tanker.
Noem added: 'The United States will continue to crack down on the illegal transfer of sanctioned oil used to fund drug terrorism in the region. We will find you and stop you.'
The post included almost 8 minutes of aerial footage, showing a helicopter hovering above the deck of a large oil tanker.
Noem added: 'The United States will continue to crack down on the illegal transfer of sanctioned oil used to fund drug terrorism in the region. We will find you and stop you.'
The New York Times, quoting one unnamed US official and two sources, reports that the vessel is a Panama-flagged oil tanker carrying Venezuelan oil, which recently left Venezuela and is currently in Caribbean waters.
According to the Department of Homeland Security's post, the tanker named 'Century' is 'suspected of carrying oil sanctioned by the United States.'
According to the Department of Homeland Security's post, the tanker named 'Century' is 'suspected of carrying oil sanctioned by the United States.'