On December 22, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States would retain both the oil cargo and the vessels seized from tankers linked to Venezuela, amid a rapidly intensifying pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump remarked on the fate of assets from recent interceptions: "We're going to keep it... maybe we'll use it in the Strategic Reserves... We're keeping the ships also."
This declaration follows Trump's December 16 order for a "total and complete blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, described as targeting the regime's primary revenue source amid allegations of funding drug trafficking and terrorism. The blockade has been enforced through a series of high-profile interceptions by the U.S. Coast Guard, supported by the Department of Defense, in international waters near Venezuela.
The first seizure occurred on December 10, 2025, when U.S. forces boarded and took control of the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Skipper, a sanctioned vessel previously involved in Iranian oil trade. The tanker, carrying approximately 1.8-2 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey heavy crude, was intercepted off Venezuela's coast. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the operation involved a seizure warrant executed by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and Coast Guard.
A second interception took place on December 20, 2025, with the Panama-flagged Centuries apprehended east of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described it as a predawn action, noting the vessel had recently loaded in Venezuela and was destined for Asia, primarily China. Analysts noted this tanker was not explicitly sanctioned, marking an expansion beyond Trump's stated focus on sanctioned vessels alone.
On December 21, 2025, U.S. forces pursued a third tanker, identified as the Bella 1—a sanctioned "dark fleet" vessel with ties to Iran. The ship, en route to load oil in Venezuela, fled pursuit, broadcasting distress signals as it headed into the Atlantic Ocean. This marked the third action since December 10, heightening risks of confrontation as Maduro has ordered Venezuelan naval escorts for some tankers.
These operations are part of a broader U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, described as the largest in decades, including 11 warships and thousands of troops initially framed under counternarcotics efforts. The seizures have disrupted Venezuela's oil exports, which rely heavily on a shadow fleet to evade sanctions imposed since 2019. Venezuela's crude production averages around 900,000 barrels per day in 2025, with China purchasing about 76% and the U.S. (via licensed operators like Chevron) around 17%.
Venezuela has vehemently condemned the actions as "piracy" and "theft," with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announcing plans to report to the United Nations. Maduro accused the U.S. of aiming to overthrow his government and seize national resources.
Legal experts debate the blockade's status: while traditional blockades constitute acts of war, the focus on sanctioned vessels frames it as sanctions enforcement. Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Joaquin Castro, criticized it as unauthorized escalation. Oil markets reacted modestly, with prices briefly rising due to supply uncertainty, though global abundance mitigated impacts.
Trump's comments on retaining assets suggest potential addition to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve or other uses, echoing past rhetoric on expropriated American interests in Venezuela. The campaign aligns with broader goals of isolating Maduro, whom Trump has designated part of a "foreign terrorist organization," while opposition figures like María Corina Machado signal openness to U.S. investment.
As interceptions continue, regional tensions mount, with risks of spillover affecting migration, drug flows, and energy markets. The U.S. actions underscore a hardline approach to Venezuela's oil-dependent economy, potentially reshaping trade dynamics in the hemisphere.
