U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker in Bold Move That Escalates Regional Tensions

By Solange Reyner | Thursday, 11 December 2025 06:17 PM EST

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has demanded that the Trump administration explain why U.S. forces seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, stating the United States must clarify “what facts led them to take such actions” out of respect for other global members.

Speaking at an ambassador roundtable on resolving the Ukraine crisis, Lavrov noted there is “too little information here” regarding how the U.S. views Venezuela’s situation. He emphasized President Trump has publicly called for a regime change or voluntary resignation of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro while Chevron continues operations in Venezuela.

“We need to get to the bottom of that somehow,” Lavrov stated about the illegal volumes of fuel on the seized tanker.

The United States seized the sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday, triggering higher global oil prices and escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas. The Venezuelan government condemned the action as “blatant theft” and an “act of international piracy,” pledging to report it to international bodies.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the vessel is a “sanctioned shadow vessel known for carrying black-market sanctioned oil to the IRGC,” which will be taken to a U.S. port. This seizure marks the first Venezuelan oil cargo under U.S. sanctions active since 2019 and represents the Trump administration’s initial action against a Venezuela-related tanker following his order for a regional military buildup.

The move follows recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug vessels, raising concerns among lawmakers and legal experts.