The United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, prompting strong condemnation from Caracas, which described the action as “theft and kidnapping,” amid escalating tensions over US sanctions on Venezuelan oil.
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the US Coast Guard, supported by the Department of War, apprehended the vessel in a pre-dawn operation on Saturday, December 20.
She said the tanker had last docked in Venezuela and was suspected of carrying oil subject to US sanctions.
“In a pre-dawn action early this morning, the US Coast Guard apprehended an oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela,” Noem wrote on X, sharing aerial footage of the interception.
The vessel was identified as Centuries, a Chinese-owned, Panama-flagged tanker. The White House alleged it was carrying sanctioned crude from Venezuela’s state oil firm, PDVSA, and described it as part of a “Venezuelan shadow fleet.”
However, an AFP review found the tanker is not listed on the US Treasury Department’s sanctions register.
Venezuela rejected the move, warning of accountability. “Those responsible for these serious events will answer to justice and to history for their criminal conduct,” the government said.
Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said the country would not be intimidated, declaring, “We are waging a battle against lies, manipulation, interference, military threats and psychological warfare.”
The interception is the second US tanker seizure in the region within two weeks and follows President Donald Trump’s announcement of a blockade on “sanctioned oil vessels” entering or leaving Venezuela.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil accused Washington of “piracy,” saying Iran had offered support to Caracas.
The incident comes amid an expanded US military presence in the Caribbean and renewed warnings from regional leaders that any armed conflict over Venezuela could trigger a humanitarian crisis.
