US Seizes Sanctioned Oil Tanker Off the Coast of Venezuela
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Residential and commercial buildings near the shoreline of La Guaira, Vargas State, Venezuela, on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.
President Donald Trump said airlines should consider the airspace above and around Venezuela to be closed as his administration continues to threaten more aggressive steps against President Nicolas Maduro's government. Photo by Bloomberg /BloombergArticle content(Bloomberg) — Lea la nota en españolSign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle contentUS forces have intercepted and seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, according to people familiar with the matter, a move that marks a serious escalation of tensions between the two countries.Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentThe US conducted a “judicial enforcement action on a stateless vessel” that was last docked in Venezuela, according to a senior Trump administration official. State oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA and Venezuela’s oil and information ministries didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment.Article contentArticle contentInternational oil prices moved higher on news of the seizure, with Brent crude climbing as much as 0.8% in London trading.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentThe US action may make it much harder for Venezuela to export its oil, as other shippers are now likely to be more reluctant to load its cargoes. Most Venezuelan oil goes to China, usually through intermediaries, at steep discounts owing to sanctions risk.Article content“The US seizing a Venezuelan tanker is a clear escalation from financial sanctions to physical interdiction — it raises the stakes for Caracas and anyone facilitating its exports,” said Jorge Leon, head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy. “This kind of action adds a geopolitical floor to prices: Even modest volumes can move sentiment when the risk is about sea lanes and state-to-state escalation.”Article contentThe Trump administration has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom it has accused of presiding over a narcotrafficking operation. The Pentagon has conducted more than 20 strikes against purported drug-trafficking vessels in waters near Venezuela and Colombia, killing more than 80 suspects.
President Donald Trump has suggested numerous times that the US could strike on land and that Maduro’s “days are numbered.”Article contentArticle contentThe Maduro government has characterized US actions as a grab for Venezuela’s oil reserves, among the biggest in the world. The tanker seizure is coming to light on the same day María Corina Machado, who leads the Venezuelan opposition to Maduro, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.Article contentIn recent months, Maduro has called on Venezuela’s citizens to unite against what he said were US threats and to enlist in the citizen militia. He has also deployed troops, ships, aircraft and drones to the border with Colombia, some states along the coast and an island.Article contentPDVSA, the state oil company, works with a handful of international partners including Houston-based Chevron Corp. to drill in many parts of the country. Under the current arrangement, Chevron receives a percentage of the oil produced by its joint ventures with PDVSA. A license issued by the US Treasury exempts the US company from sanctions.Article contentEarlier on Wednesday, Chevron Chief Executive Officer Mike Wirth said in an interview with Bloomberg TV that his company is in discussions with the Trump administration about remaining in compliance with sanctions in Venezuela.Article content—With assistance from Lucia Kassai.Article content(Updates with administration official comment in second paragraph, oil price reaction in third, analyst comment in fourth, Chevron CEO’s earlier comments in last.)Article contentTrending David Rosenberg: 10 reasons why we're now bullish on the Canadian dollar for the first time in many years News This generation of Canadians is rapidly increasing its wealth and may soon unseat the boomers Wealth Posthaste: A market phenomenon not seen in 50 years is raising red flags at the world's central bank News This Canadian mine is as big as a city. It has a basketball court and its chefs serve 4,000 meals daily Commodities Bank of Canada tempers expectations for any moves on rates in 2026, economists say Economy Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. David Rosenberg: 10 reasons why we're now bullish on the Canadian dollar for the first time in many years News This generation of Canadians is rapidly increasing its wealth and may soon unseat the boomers Wealth Posthaste: A market phenomenon not seen in 50 years is raising red flags at the world's central bank News This Canadian mine is as big as a city. It has a basketball court and its chefs serve 4,000 meals daily Commodities Bank of Canada tempers expectations for any moves on rates in 2026, economists say Economy