U.S.–Venezuela tensions rise after Coast Guard seizes sanctioned oil tanker

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are sharply escalating this morning after the Venezuelan government accused Washington of “a blatant theft and an act of international piracy.”

(NBC)- Tensions between the United States and Venezuela are sharply escalating this morning after the Venezuelan government accused Washington of “a blatant theft and an act of international piracy.” The accusation centers on a dramatic U.S. operation at sea, where elite Coast Guard forces rappelled from helicopters onto a massive oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.

According to two U.S. officials, the boarding was carried out under a federal seizure warrant — a move Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly confirmed.

“We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela,” President Trump said. “Large tanker, very large.”

The Justice Department alleges the vessel was transporting sanctioned oil from both Venezuela and Iran as part of what it calls an “illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.” Trump defended the seizure, saying, “It was seized for very good reason.”

It remains unclear where the seized oil was headed or what the United States plans to do with it next. When asked, Trump responded, “Well, we keep it, I guess. I don’t know.”

Venezuela’s government claims the tanker operation is proof that the Trump administration’s pressure campaign on President Nicolás Maduro has more to do with the nation’s vast oil reserves than U.S. concerns about drug trafficking. The administration has carried out multiple strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuelan waters and has repeatedly threatened to expand operations onto land.

Washington accuses Maduro of direct ties to drug trafficking that “steals American lives,” even offering a $50 million reward for information leading to his capture. Maduro denies the allegations, and while he insists his country is ready to defend itself, he offered a lighter message to Americans during a Wednesday rally, saying: “Don’t worry, be happy.”

As tensions rise, President Trump also suggested Colombia may be the next target in his expanded fight against the drug trade.