Name: Trump confirms seizing of Venezuelan oil tanker
Uploaded: 2025-12-11T08:44:27.975Z
Duration: 2 min 48 s
Description: The U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, ratcheting up tensions with Caracas.

The U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, ratcheting up tensions with Caracas.

Washington

U.S. military forces seized a large Venezuelan oil tanker, which was sanctioned by the United States for involvement in Iranian oil trading and alleged support of foreign terrorist organizations. The operation, confirmed by President Donald Trump, has heightened tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, with additional U.S. military activity observed in Puerto Rico near the Venezuelan coast.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the seizure as "imperial aggression," while U.S. lawmakers voiced concerns about potential escalation. Trump also issued a warning to Colombia regarding drug trafficking. Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Karina Machado, recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, appeared in Norway despite a travel ban imposed by Maduro.

Trump confirms seizing of Venezuelan oil tanker

Like a scene out of a Hollywood action movie, the silent video is as dramatic as it is sobering. From U.S. helicopters, American soldiers rappelling down to an oil tanker and quickly, forcibly commandeering the ship. We've just seized a tanker, a large tanker, very large. Largest one ever seized, actually. And, uh, other things are happening. The tanker was identified as a Venezuelan ship sanctioned by the U.S. for Iranian oil trading and, as the U.S. puts it, supporting foreign terrorist organizations. It was seized for a very good reason. It sharply ratchets the ever-growing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. Consider these fresh images of U.S. fighter jets on the ground in Puerto Rico. This flight map showing where, on Tuesday, U.S. fighter jets flew this close to Venezuela, circling multiple times before departing. And these images of more U.S. hardware and troops landing in Puerto Rico, just a short hop from the coast of Venezuela. All of it raising concerns a U.S. ground assault now looms ever closer. Donald Trump this week saying of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, quote, his days are numbered. Maduro already calling the U.S. ship seizure imperial aggression. Though to Venezuelans, Maduro had this message. Don't worry, be happy. In Washington, Democrats now wonder aloud, what's next? I am really worried here because I don't, you know, who knows how far these guys are going to go. Americans are worried they're going to escalate, escalate, escalate and get us involved in an endless war, which is nobody wants. Whatever the administration is planning for Venezuela, Donald Trump suggesting he has his eyes on Colombia as well, citing cocaine production in that country that makes its way to the U.S. Trump told reporters Colombia's president will, quote, have some big problems if he doesn't wise up or he'll be next. Trump adding, I hope he's listening. And a surprise also tonight, Paul, from Venezuela's opposition leader. Yes, Maria Karina Machado, banned by Maduro from leaving the country since 2014. Today, defying Maduro by showing up somehow in Norway where she'd just been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for pushback against the Maduro regime. She's been a supporter of U.S. pressure against Maduro, saying it's the only way to force him to understand it's time to go, Adrienne. Interesting. All right, that's Paul Hunter in Washington.

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