U.S. military forces conducted a dramatic seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast Wednesday, executing what President Donald Trump described as the capture of “the largest” vessel ever taken by American authorities.
The operation, involving helicopters launched from the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, marks an unprecedented escalation in Washington’s confrontation with Nicolás Maduro’s government over oil smuggling and alleged support for terrorist organizations.
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the vessel had transported sanctioned petroleum from Venezuela and Iran, violating U.S. sanctions designed to cut funding to designated terrorist groups. Video footage showed armed personnel rappelling onto the tanker’s deck from military helicopters as the ship was interdicted at sea.
Venezuela’s government immediately condemned the action as “international piracy” and a “grave international crime.” Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called U.S. officials “murderers, thieves, pirates,” comparing the seizure to historical acts of maritime theft rather than legitimate law enforcement.
President Maduro, speaking at a political rally earlier Wednesday, had declared Venezuela would never become an “oil colony,” though it remains unclear whether he knew about the impending seizure when he made those remarks. He later addressed Americans opposed to potential military conflict by singing Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” substituting “not war, be happy” in Spanish.
The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of serving as a conduit for narcotics flowing into the United States and has pursued an aggressive isolation campaign against Maduro through sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and now direct military action against commercial shipping.
Venezuela possesses some of the world’s largest proven petroleum reserves, making control of oil exports central to both the country’s economy and Washington’s leverage strategy. Caracas has repeatedly accused the United States of attempting to steal Venezuelan resources under the guise of law enforcement.
The seizure triggered immediate market reactions, with Brent crude prices rising on concerns about supply disruptions. Energy analysts warned that the action could create uncertainty for international shippers and further constrain Venezuela’s ability to export oil, though the long-term market impact remains unclear.
Russia quickly signaled support for its Venezuelan ally. The Kremlin announced Thursday that President Vladimir Putin had spoken with Maduro, offering reassurance of Moscow’s backing “in the face of growing external pressure” from Washington. The Russian statement highlighted the geopolitical dimensions of the confrontation beyond bilateral U.S.-Venezuela tensions.
The Justice Department coordinated the operation across multiple agencies. The FBI, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Coast Guard worked together to plan and execute the seizure, demonstrating the interagency nature of the action.
“For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations,” Bondi wrote on social media, providing the administration’s legal justification for the operation.
The released footage showed dramatic scenes of the military operation. Helicopters hovered above a large commercial vessel as troops descended on ropes. Armed personnel in military uniforms moved across the deck with weapons at the ready, securing the ship.
A senior military official revealed that the helicopters launched from the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s most advanced and largest aircraft carrier, which deployed to the Caribbean last month. The carrier’s presence in the region represents a significant show of force within close range of Venezuela’s coastline.
The operation involved two helicopters, 10 Coast Guard personnel, 10 Marines, and additional special forces operators trained in maritime interdiction. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was briefed on the mission, and sources indicated the administration is considering similar operations against other vessels violating sanctions.
When reporters asked what would happen to the oil cargo, Trump’s response was blunt: “We keep it, I guess. I assume we’re going to keep the oil.” The answer suggested the petroleum would be sold or used by the United States rather than returned to Venezuela.
Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech identified the seized vessel as the Skipper, a tanker that had been broadcasting false position data for an extended period. This practice, known as “spoofing,” allows ships to conceal their actual locations and routes from tracking systems.
Independent verification confirmed the vessel in government footage matched the Skipper based on distinctive features and markings visible in the video.
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the Skipper in 2022, designating it for involvement in oil smuggling operations that allegedly generated revenue for Hezbollah and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, both designated as foreign terrorist organizations by Washington.
Marine tracking data showed the Skipper sailing under Guyana’s flag when its position was last updated two days before the seizure. However, Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department quickly issued a statement clarifying that the Skipper “was falsely flying the Guyana Flag as it is not registered in Guyana.”
The false flag practice, common among vessels evading sanctions, allows ships to claim protection under a nation’s maritime laws while operating illegally. Guyana’s swift disavowal protected the country from association with the illicit activities.
Port records show the Skipper called at Iranian, Iraqi, and Emirati ports between June 30 and July 9 this year. The vessel’s most recent documented stop was Soroosh port in Iran on July 9, though it likely visited additional locations without reporting them.
Tracking data indicates the tanker remained near Iran until mid-September before transiting to waters off Guyana in late October, where it made minimal movements for weeks. The data’s reliability remains questionable given the vessel’s documented position spoofing.
Corporate records list Nigeria-based Thomarose Global Ventures Ltd as the beneficial owner and operator, with Marshall Islands-based Triton Navigation Corp as the registered owner. Both jurisdictions are commonly used in maritime commerce for their favorable regulatory environments.
Venezuela’s government issued an official statement characterizing the seizure as a violation of international law and sovereignty. The foreign ministry described it as part of a pattern of U.S. aggression against nations that resist American hegemony.
Interior Minister Cabello’s comparison to Pirates of the Caribbean, contrasting the fictional hero Jack Sparrow with what he called “high seas criminals,” sought to frame the United States as lawless aggressors rather than law enforcers. He argued such actions represented how Washington “started wars all over the world.”
Maduro’s musical response at the rally, singing “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” while substituting anti-war lyrics, attempted to project confidence and appeal to American anti-war sentiment. The performance, potentially coinciding with the seizure operation, created surreal optics.
The United States has dramatically increased military presence in the Caribbean in recent weeks. Thousands of troops have deployed to the region, with the USS Gerald Ford positioned within potential striking distance of Venezuela’s coast.
This buildup has fueled speculation about whether the Trump administration might pursue military options beyond economic sanctions and isolated maritime interdictions. The carrier deployment to this region is unusual, making the show of force symbolically significant.
Since September, U.S. forces have conducted at least 22 strikes against vessels the administration claims were smuggling narcotics. These attacks have killed at least 80 people, raising questions about rules of engagement and the legal basis for using lethal force against suspected drug traffickers at sea.
The tanker seizure represents the most aggressive action yet in Trump’s Venezuela policy. While previous administrations imposed sanctions and supported opposition figures, none directly seized commercial vessels on the high seas in this manner.
International maritime law governing such seizures involves complex questions about jurisdiction, sovereignty, and the limits of sanctions enforcement. The United States claims authority to interdict vessels violating its sanctions against terrorist organizations, but Venezuela and its allies argue the action violates principles of maritime sovereignty and freedom of navigation.
