Name: U.S. seizes fifth tanker linked to Venezuela
Uploaded: 2026-01-09T19:23:30.800Z
Duration: 3 min 8 s
Description: The U.S. seized another oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the Caribbean, U.S. Southern Command confirmed on Friday (January 9). The seizure of the vessel comes as President Donald Trump prepares to meet with oil company executives at the White House.

The U.S. seized another oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the Caribbean, U.S. Southern Command confirmed on Friday (January 9). The seizure of the vessel comes as President Donald Trump prepares to meet with oil company executives at the White House.

Washington

U.S. Marine and Navy forces seized a fifth oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the Caribbean, continuing a campaign targeting sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments. The operation, which began prior to the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro, has resulted in five vessels being taken since December, with the latest identified as the Olena.

President Trump stated that a planned second wave of attacks on Venezuela has been canceled due to increased cooperation from the country's interim leadership. Despite this, U.S. military presence will remain in the region. The administration is also meeting with major oil company executives to encourage investment in rebuilding Venezuela's oil infrastructure, though industry analysts have noted significant risks involved.

U.S. seizes fifth tanker linked to Venezuela

And now to Washington, where President Trump says he's calling off a planned second wave of attacks on Venezuela. The president citing cooperation between the two countries since strikes on Sunday and the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro. And we have this breaking news on the U. S. Campaign targeting oil tankers linked to Venezuela. This video posted this morning by the U. S. Southern Command shows U. S. Marine and Navy forces taking over the ship in a predawn raid in the Caribbean. This is the fifth tanker seized since December. Natalie Brand is live at the White House for us today. And Natalie, what can you tell us about these latest developments on Venezuela? Yeah, Mugo. It shows that this operation on targeting sanctioned Venezuelan oil continues. This, of course, started well before Maduro's capture. But now we've seen now five vessels seized after the latest action reported by U. S. Southern Command. Today, U. S. Forces seen boarding that vessel identified as the Olena. But overall, the president in numerous public comments has signaled that he's pleased with the interim leadership in Venezuela, saying that they are cooperating at this point. But he noted that ships will remain in place in the Caribbean, referencing, you know, the massive military build up there, even though he said for now, a previously expected second wave of attacks on Venezuela has been canceled, according to what the president posted on social media because, he says, these Venezuelan interim authorities are cooperating even, you know, as as key leaders from the Maduro regime remain in place well after Maduro's capture last weekend. And Natalie, later today, the president is set to meet with oil company executives at the White House. What can we expect from that meeting? Yeah, the administration has emphasized that this is a key part of its strategy with rebuilding, trying to rebuild Venezuela. We've learned CBS News has learned that executives from more than a dozen big oil and gas companies, you see them on your screen. There will be meeting with President Trump as he tries to encourage them to invest, reinvest in Venezuela and build a new modern oil infrastructure there. Again, this has been something that the administration has talked about since the capture of Maduro. But the question we're really curious to hear from these oil companies themselves, because analysts have pointed out significant risk challenges about reinvesting there, you know, the uncertainty on the ground. So it will be interesting to hear some reaction for them. Perhaps later today, the president, meanwhile, is claiming on social media that these big oil companies have promised to invest at least $100 billion in Venezuela. All right, Natalie Brand outside the White House for us today. Thank you so

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