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The Venezuelan oil tanker seized by the U.S. this week is now headed to Houston, Reuters reports, citing two sources.
Donald Trump and his administration have said they plan to keep the oil from the tanker, with the president telling reporters on Wednesday, “Well, we keep it, I guess.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt elaborated further saying that the" United States does intend to seize the oil,” but said that a "legal process will be followed."
Estimated to be carrying 1.85 million barrels of Venezuela's Merey heavy crude, according to TankerTrackers.com, the large tanker is too big to enter the Houston port and will need to offload the cargo to smaller ships, the sources told Reuters.
The vessel was seized off the coast of Venezuela Wednesday as the U.S. puts increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to leave office. In recent months, the U.S. had carried out increasingly large military build-up in the Caribbean and carried out military strikes on alleged drug smuggler boats off the Venezuelan coast. Maduro's government responded to the seizure, branding it an "act of international piracy," while Russia has demanded answers on the move.
What To Know
- Russian President Vladimir Putin called Maduro on Thursday to reassure him of Moscow's support, even as the U.S. puts increasing pressure on the Venezuelan leader to leave office. The Kremlin said that Putin and Maduro had discussed a strategic partnership agreement.
- A senior Trump administration official described the move as a “judicial enforcement action on a stateless vessel” last docked in Venezuela.
- Maduro has long accused Washington of seeking to overthrow him and seize Venezuela’s vast oil reserves; the nation’s production has fallen from over 2 million barrels a day to roughly 1 million.
- The seizure comes after Trump renewed threats of intervention by land, air, or sea, including a recent U.S. fighter jet flyover near Venezuelan airspace.
- Caracas condemned the action as “international piracy” and “brazen theft,” accusing the U.S. of trying to control its natural resources.
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Dec 12, 2025 at 05:00 PM EST
How does oil tanker shadow fleet operate?
The United States has said that the oil tanker, Skipper, that it seized off the coast of Venezuela Wednesday, was part of a shadowy fleet of old oil tankers that smuggle oil for countries facing sanctions, such as Venezuela, Russia and Iran.
The ships, which are registered to shell companies that help conceal their ownership, cloak their locations by altering their automated identification system — a mandatory safety feature intended to help avoid collisions — to either go entirely dark or to “spoof” their location to appear to be navigating sometimes oceans away, under a false flag or with the fake registration information of another vessel, according to Associated Press.
The shadow fleet expanded after the U.S. imposed tough sanctions on Russia over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Experts say many of the ships are barely seaworthy, operate without insurance and are registered to shell companies that help conceal their ownership.
Dec 12, 2025 at 04:30 PM EST
Venezuelan oil exports drop after US tanker seizure
Venezuelan oil exports have fallen dramatically since the United States seized a tanker off the South American country's coast on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
Only tankers chartered by Chevron, which is headquartered in California, has entered international waters carrying Venezuelan crude oil since the seizure, and new sanctions announced by the U.S.
Dec 12, 2025 at 04:00 PM EST
US-Venezuela tensions: 3 signs of looming war
President Donald Trump’s deployment of warships off Venezuela and the administration's continuing pressure on President Nicolás Maduro, considered to be Venezuela’s illegitimate leader, has heightened speculation about looming U.S. military action in South America.
The strategy is emerging as part of a wider push to reestablish American primacy in the Western Hemisphere. The United States says it will reassert and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American preeminence in the hemisphere, the White House’s new National Security Strategy states.
James Monroe’s 1823 doctrine declared the Americas a U.S. sphere of influence, opposing European powers and paving the way for interventions across Latin America.
Below are three signs the standoff between Washington and Caracas is intensifying.
Read in full: US-Venezuela Tensions: 3 Signs of Looming War
Dec 12, 2025 at 03:24 PM EST
Oil prices firmer on supply worries after tanker seized
Oil prices rose on Friday as the possibility of the U.S. intercepting more Venezuelan oil tankers deepened supply concerns, but they remained on track for a weekly decline amid optimism over a possible Russia-Ukraine peace agreement, Reuters reported.
Brent crude futures rose 29 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $61.57 a barrel by 8.15 p.m., and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $57.91 a barrel, up 31 cents, or 0.5 percent.
"After selling on expectations that supply pressures would ease amid hopes for a Russia-Ukraine peace agreement, buying emerged to pare losses following the U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan tanker," Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist of Nissan Securities Investment, a unit of Nissan Securities, told the news agency.
"Peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine will remain the main focus next week and beyond," he said.
A possible peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine would likely increase the supply of Russian oil that is currently sanctioned by Western countries.
Venezuela holds some of the largest proven crude oil reserves in the world, most of which is the extra-heavy crude oil from the Orinoco Belt.
Dec 12, 2025 at 03:00 PM EST
Senator calls on Congress to block Trump from using taxpayer money for conflict with Venezuela
Senator Chris Van Hollen said that he is calling on Congress to block President Donald Trump and his administration from using taxpayer funds to carry out "armed conflict" with Venezuela.
"As Trump continues to manufacture a cover story for armed conflict with Venezuela, I'm calling on Congress to block him from using taxpayer dollars to launch a regime change war," Van Hollen, a Democrat, said on Wednesday after the U.S. seized a Venezuelan tanker.
Dec 12, 2025 at 02:00 PM EST
US seizure of oil tanker off Venezuela signals crackdown on shadow fleet
The seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela signals the United States' willingness to crackdown on a shadowy fleet of ancient oil tankers that smuggle oil for countries under sanctions, including Venezuela, Russia and Iran.
“There are hundreds of flagless, stateless tankers that have been a lifeline for revenues, sanctioned oil revenues, for regimes like Maduro’s, Iran and for the Kremlin,” Michelle Wiese Bockmann, a senior analyst at Windward, a maritime intelligence firm that tracks such vessels, told AP.
“They can no longer operate unchallenged.”
Trump imposed tough oil sanctions on Venezuela during his first term in 2017. Since then, the Maduro regime has relied on the shadow fleet to smuggle out Venezuelan crude.
Dec 12, 2025 at 01:33 PM EST
Venezuelan oil tanker seized by US headed to Houston
The Venezuelan oil tanker seized by the U.S. this week is now headed to Houston, Reuters reports, citing two sources.
Donald Trump and his administration have said they plan to keep the oil from the tanker, with the president telling reporters on Wednesday, “Well, we keep it, I guess.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt elaborated further saying that the" United States does intend to seize the oil,” but said that a "legal process will be followed."
Estimated to be carrying 1.85 million barrels of Venezuela's Merey heavy crude, according to TankerTrackers.com, the large tanker is too big to enter the Houston port and will need to offload the cargo to smaller ships, the sources told Reuters.
Dec 12, 2025 at 01:00 PM EST
Reactions to US seizure of Venezuela oil tanker: The Conversation
Welcome back to The Conversation, where we highlight our readers’ comments from the past week. We turn our attention to the escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas; this comes after the latest developments which saw the United States seize a large Venezuelan oil tanker off its Caribbean coast.
The event marks a significant escalation in Washington's campaign targeting President Nicolás Maduro's government.
The operation was carried out by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Coast Guard with support from the Department of Defense. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the ship was used to move illicit oil tied to foreign terrorist groups. Caracas called the move an "act of international piracy," arguing it was part of a long-running strategy to take control of its natural resources.
Read in full: Reactions to US Seizure of Venezuela Oil Tanker: The Conversation
Dec 12, 2025 at 12:33 PM EST
What natural resources does Venezuela have?
Venezuela has some of the world’s largest oil reserves, along with significant natural gas, iron ore, bauxite, gold, diamonds, and other minerals, and it also possesses abundant freshwater resources, fertile agricultural land, and extensive forests that support timber and biodiversity, making it one of the most resource-rich countries in Latin America.
Dec 12, 2025 at 12:05 PM EST
Admiral hands over leadership of command overseeing Trump admin’s boat strikes
A U.S. Navy admiral overseeing military operations in Latin America relinquished his command Friday as scrutiny grows over the Trump administration’s deadly strikes on suspected drug boats in the region.
Adm. Alvin Holsey retired one year into an assignment that typically lasts three to four years, transferring command to his top deputy, Air Force Lt. Gen. Evan Pettus, during a ceremony at U.S. Southern Command headquarters near Miami.
In farewell remarks, Holsey did not address the military campaign or the circumstances surrounding his early departure. He instead urged his successor to maintain longstanding regional partnerships by upholding democratic values and respect for the rule of law.
“To be a trusted partner, we must be credible, present and engaged,” Holsey said.
The Pentagon announced Holsey’s retirement in October, more than a month after the Trump administration began strikes targeting suspected drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The operations have killed at least 87 people and are facing increased scrutiny from Congress. Holsey briefed key lawmakers earlier this week.
Dec 12, 2025 at 11:14 AM EST
Where is Venezuela located?
Venezuela is located in the northern part of South America, bordered by Colombia to the west, Brazil to the south, and Guyana to the east, with a long coastline along the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the north; its capital, Caracas, sits near the northern coast.
Dec 12, 2025 at 11:00 AM EST
What is a sanctioned oil tanker?
A sanctioned oil tanker is a ship that has been placed under economic or legal restrictions—usually by a government or international body—because it is involved in activities that violate sanctions, such as transporting oil for a country, company, or organization that is under embargo.
When a tanker is sanctioned, its owners, operators, insurers, and business partners are barred from conducting transactions with entities in the sanctioning country (often the U.S. or EU). This can lead to the ship being denied access to ports, insurance, financing, and international shipping services. Sanctioned tankers often attempt to evade detection by tactics like turning off transponders, transferring oil between ships at sea, or using shell companies, but doing so carries significant legal and financial risk for all parties involved.
Dec 12, 2025 at 10:40 AM EST
Venezuelan opposition leader supports U.S invasion, say country ‘already invaded’ by Russian agents
María Corina Machado, the opposition leader in Venezuela and latest Nobel Peace Prize winner, said she supported the United States' seizure of a tanker off the coast of the South American country to cut off the revenue flowing to President Nicolas Maduro's government.
When asked how she would feel about a full U.S. invasion of Venezuela, Machado replied that it had "already been invaded."
"We have Russian agents and terrorist groups,” Machado added.
The opposition party leader added that she believed President Donald Trump had been "decisive" in weakening Maduro's regime.
“The regime previously thought that they could do anything, anything. They felt they had absolute impunity,” Machado said. “Now, they start to understand that this is serious and the world is really watching.”
Dec 12, 2025 at 10:25 AM EST
Colombia says it would consider offering Maduro asylum
Colombia would consider offering Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro asylum if he were to request protection, Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio told the Radio Caracol broadcaster.
President Donald Trump has not confirmed any military plan for Venezuela but pressure has been building on Maduro for weeks as the U.S. deploys forces to the Caribbean in support of what it says is its campaign to stop narcotics flowing to the U.S. from Venezuela.
Trump has said he believes Maduro's “days are numbered” and he has spoken of land operations in Venezuela.
Villavicencio said Colombia should not “close the door” to Maduro, the Colombian broadcaster cited the minister as saying on Thursday.
Tensions between the U.S. and Colombia have also escalated in recent weeks with Trump threatening to extend his anti-drug military campaign and warning that Colombian President Gustavo Petro “could be next.”
Dec 12, 2025 at 10:20 AM EST
Venezuela Could Run Out of Oil Revenue ‘in Weeks: Pompeo
Former U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has said that the U.S. should maintain its pressure on Nicolas Maduro, whose government coffers will be hit hard by the crackdown on its oil exports.
Pompeo, who served in the first Trump administration, told the show Sekulow that if the seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela was any indication of what's to come, the Maduro regime could run out of the revenue in "weeks not months.”
Pompeo said that “no one wants American adventurism” but the effort of Trump was “consistent with his America first foreign policy.”
“My sense is this is part of turning off the economic capacity of Maduro's regime to stay in power,” said Pompeo.
“So if I'm right on this theory, there will be more seizures, there will be more ships sitting in sea lanes off of Venezuela, trying to deny the revenue that keeps the Maduro regime afloat.”
"The (Maduro) regime probably has enough resources to last, I think, weeks, not months," he added "so taking a million barrels of crude oil from him is a big deal for his economic capacity.”
Dec 12, 2025 at 10:17 AM EST
US placed $50 million bounty on Maduro: What to know
The United States placed a $50 million bounty on Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in August, doubling the previous reward and intensifying long-standing allegations that he is a major narcotrafficker responsible for helping move fentanyl-laced cocaine into the country. The move builds on Maduro’s 2020 U.S. federal indictment on narcoterrorism and cocaine-importation conspiracy charges—claims he has repeatedly denied. With the new figure, Washington now ranks Maduro among the most sought-after fugitives in its history.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes,” Pam Bondi, the attorney general, said in a video statement announcing the reward.
U.S. officials say their investigations have tied more than $700 million in assets—and millions of tons of seized cocaine—to Maduro and his network. Announcing the heightened reward, Bondi accused him of collaborating with Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua criminal gang and described him as a national-security threat. Maduro’s office has not responded to the latest allegations.
Dec 12, 2025 at 10:16 AM EST
Donald Trump says land strikes on Venezuela coming ‘soon’
President Donald Trump has said the U.S. will carry out imminent strikes on Venezuela to intercept alleged narcotics shipments from the country.
"It's going to be starting on land pretty soon," Trump said, without specifying further.
Newsweek has contacted the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry for comment outside office hours.
Trump said on Thursday that the U.S. would soon strike to intercept narcotics shipments going from Venezuela to the United States via land routes.
He said drug trafficking by sea was down, and that "we'll start that on land, too ... pretty soon."
Read in full: Donald Trump Says Land Strikes on Venezuela Coming ‘Soon’
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