US seizes another oil tanker off Venezuela

Washington DC: The US Coast Guard, with the support of the Pentagon, has seized another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on X.  

"The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region," Noem said on Saturday, while posting an unclassified video of the reported incident. She did not provide concrete evidence that the tanker's activities are being used to fund narco terrorism. 

In a post on X, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the US "will unflinchingly conduct maritime interdiction operations — through OPERATION SOUTHERN SPEAR — to dismantle illicit criminal networks. Violence, drugs, and chaos will not control the Western Hemisphere."

Vessel-tracking service MarineTraffic said the crude oil tanker is flying under the flag of Panama and was recently active off the Venezuelan coast.   

It's the second time the US has taken control of an oil tanker off Venezuela. US President Donald Trump has ordered a blockade, where US ships would seize any sanctioned oil tankers entering or exiting Venezuela.         

Jeremy Paner, a partner at the Washington, DC-based Hughes Hubbard law firm, told Reuters news agency that the tanker had not been targeted by US sanctions. 

"The seizure of a vessel that is not sanctioned by the US marks a further increase in Trump's pressure on Venezuela," Paner said.

Venezuela denounces 'theft and hijacking' of private oil vessel
The Venezuelan government under Nicolas Maduro released an official statement regarding the oil tanker seizure, condemning the US for its actions. 

Venezuela said the US engaged in "theft and hijacking" of a private vessel transporting Venezuelan crude oil.

The Venezuelan government said "these acts will not go unpunished" and vowed to take further steps "including filing a complaint before the United Nations Security Council." Venezuela described the seizure as a "grave act of international piracy."

Brazil, Argentina divided over Trump's aggressive Venezuela policy 
The move comes as Trump has not ruled out a potential war with Venezuela against Maduro's government.Trump earlier said that the US military would launch land strikes on Venezuela.    

Brazilian leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva earlier warned on Saturday at a Mercosur summit that a US military operation in Venezuela could trigger "a humanitarian catastrophe for the hemisphere and a dangerous precedent for the world."

A potential US military intervention in Latin America would open old wounds in the region, with Washington having previously backed numerous coups in the region during the Cold War, including in Brazil. Moreover, a US conflict with Venezuela could exacerbate the flow of Venezuelan refugees into Brazil and other neighbouring countries in the region.

Argentina's right-wing libertarian President Javier Milei, meanwhile, said his country "welcomes the pressure from the United States and Donald Trump to free the Venezuelan people. The time for a timid approach on this matter has run out." 

Venezuela under Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, has witnessed hyperinflation, stark poverty and food insecurity. Maduro's victories in previous elections have been met with protests and allegations that his rule is illegitimate.