U.S. Navy seizes oil tanker off Venezuelan coast

Trump has previously stated that Maduro's "days are numbered" but has not announced plans for a regime change.

Published: December 10, 2025 2:34pm

The U.S. Navy on Wednesday seized an oil off the coast of Venezuela amid ongoing strikes on suspected drugs and a Washington-driven pressure campaign to encourage Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step aside.

Bloomberg first reported the seizure. The name of the ship is currently unknown. The seizure marks an escalation of American operations in the Caribbean, which have previously been limited to small-scale strikes on minor watercraft.

Trump has previously stated that Maduro's "days are numbered" but has not announced plans for a regime change. He has suggested that the U.S. may conduct strikes against drug cartels on Venezuelan land, however.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.

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