Blatant Piracy: Great Satan US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker in Dramatic Act of Thehft and Escalation
The United States has sparked widespread condemnation following the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, an action that Caracas equates to Israel’s alleged practices of unlawful military aggression and resource appropriation. The Venezuelan government has condemned this move as a flagrant "act of international piracy."
Trump announced on Wednesday that U.S. forces had seized the massive tanker Skipper, which was laden with approximately 2 million barrels of heavy crude off the coast of Venezuela. He asserted, “I assume we’re going to keep the oil.”
The assault, carried out with helicopters launched from the USS Gerald Ford, represents one of the most significant escalations in Washington’s four-month pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro.
Caracas denounced the seizure as “a grave international crime,” labeling it as “a blatant theft and an act of international piracy.”
The government stated that the underlying intentions have consistently revolved around Venezuela’s oil, energy, and resources, which rightfully belong solely to the Venezuelan population.
Reports suggest that the United States is adopting strategies often attributed to Israel, which have faced longstanding criticism. These tactics allegedly involve the appropriation of resources, infringement on sovereignty, and the utilization of military force to fulfill political objectives, all purportedly framed as security operations.
U.S. authorities have alleged that the vessel, which has been under sanctions since 2022, is involved in an illegal oil network that provides support to foreign militant organizations.
Analysts indicate that Washington appears to be leveraging its increased military presence in the Caribbean, akin to Israel’s rationale for using force in occupied territories, as a means to access Venezuela’s significant oil reserves.
The seizure of the tanker occurs against the backdrop of a vigorous US military operation in the area, which has involved 22 deadly attacks on purported drug-smuggling vessels since September, resulting in over 80 fatalities.
The attacks have drawn criticism, being labeled as extrajudicial and resembling the type of actions frequently associated with Israel’s operations in Gaza and the West Bank, often described as having an air of impunity.
In a speech to supporters in Caracas, Maduro called on Venezuelans to brace themselves against what he described as the “North American empire.” He accused Washington of employing sanctions, naval forces, and covert operations as tools to undermine the sovereignty of Venezuela.
In recent months, the United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea, a region neighboring northern Venezuela. This strategic build-up involves the deployment of U.S. warships and the positioning of thousands of American troops in close proximity to Venezuela.
On Wednesday, two helicopters deployed from the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, successfully intercepted the Skipper. The USS Gerald Ford had been deployed to the Caribbean last month.
A combined force consisting of ten Coast Guard personnel, ten Marines, and special forces units successfully executed the operation to seize the oil tanker.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, currently facing scrutiny from legal experts regarding potential war crimes linked to the campaign in the Latin American region, directed the operation involving the seizure of the oil tanker.
