Trump issues 4-word warning as US troops seize Venezuela tanker | World | News
Donald Trump has issued a subtle warning to Venezuela after US forces seized one of the country’s giant sanctioned oil tankers. This bold move will likely raise fears of an all-out war between the two countries and mark a major escalation in tensions between them.
Announcing the operation, the US President said: “We have just seized a tanker off the coast of Venezuela. A large tanker, actually the largest seized so far. Other things are happening, so you will see this later. We will talk about this with others later. The US has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of heading a drug trafficking operation in Venezuela, an accusation he has flatly denied.
Officials confirmed to Reuters that the US Coast Guard led the operation, but withheld key details such as the name of the tanker, the flag it was sailing under and the exact location of the incident.
Meanwhile, UK-based maritime risk management group Vanguard reported that the ship believed to have been seized was the Skipper tanker. This ship had previously been sanctioned by the US for allegedly trading Iranian oil under the pseudonym Adisa, adding a layer of geopolitical tension to the situation.
At a rally in Caracas, President Maduro avoided mentioning the seizure but told supporters that Venezuela was ready to resist the United States if necessary. Surrounded by senior officials, he insisted that only the ruling party could ensure peace, stability and progress for Venezuela and the wider region.
Most of Venezuela’s oil is ultimately shipped to China, but it rarely goes directly there. Instead, crude oil is diverted to intermediary countries where it is resold at discounted prices.
This process allows oil to bypass restrictions and sanctions while still finding a major buyer in China. As a result, Venezuela receives less revenue from open markets, but this arrangement ensures that its oil continues to flow internationally.
The United States has increased pressure on President Maduro by launching aggressive operations against Venezuelan drug-trafficking boats and deploying a large military presence in the Caribbean.
Although President Trump has publicly stated that his sole purpose is to dismantle the drug trade responsible for sending drugs to the United States, many observers believe that these actions also signal his intention to weaken Maduro and even remove him from power.
