Venezuela condemns US ‘act of piracy’

In an official statement released on Saturday, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry denounced what it described as the “theft and hijacking” of a private vessel transporting Venezuelan oil in international waters, and accused US military personnel of the “forced disappearance” of its crew.

Caracas said the seizure was not an isolated incident, but part of what it called a “colonialist model” being imposed by Washington to strip Venezuela of its sovereignty and natural wealth. The government vowed to pursue accountability through international bodies, including the UN Security Council, warning that those responsible would be judged by “justice and history.”

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced earlier on Saturday that US forces seized the tanker in a predawn operation, an action she framed as enforcement against Venezuelan oil exports. The move comes days after President Donald Trump ordered what he described as a “total and complete” blockade of “sanctioned” tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

Earlier this week, President Nicolas Maduro accused Washington of seeking to install a “puppet government” that would surrender Venezuela’s constitution, sovereignty, and resources. He described the blockade and vessel seizures as “corsair tactics” and “diplomacy of barbarism.”

Trump has openly linked the confrontation to Venezuela’s oil, claiming that the Latin American country “stole” US energy assets and warning that Caracas will face the might of “the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America” unless it returns them.

Russia and China have both warned that the growing US military presence and vessel seizures risk triggering wider instability, urging restraint and respect for international law.