In December 2025, the United States government under President Donald Trump expanded enforcement against Venezuelan oil exports, leading to the seizure of oil and multiple tankers transporting crude linked to Venezuela. The operations occurred amid a broader blockade aimed at limiting Venezuelan government revenue.

U.S. forces, including the Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security, intercepted at least two oil tankers in international waters off Venezuela after Trump ordered a blockade on sanctioned vessels. One tanker, Skipper, had longstanding U.S. sanctions for transporting Venezuelan and Iranian crude, and was seized in early December. Another vessel, Centuries, was intercepted later with a large cargo of Venezuelan crude. Reports indicate the U.S. controls millions of barrels of seized oil and intends to retain both crude and vessels.

These actions represent an escalation in U.S. policy toward Venezuela’s oil industry, central to that country’s economy. The seizures and blockade have reduced the number of tankers willing to transport Venezuelan crude, contributing to a decline in exports and complicating logistics for foreign buyers. Observers note many ships carrying sanctioned crude risk legal action or interdiction, prompting some to remain anchored near Venezuelan ports.

The Trump administration has framed the operation as part of a strategy to cut off funding for illicit networks and increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Venezuela condemned the seizures as violations of international law and piracy, and some foreign governments voiced opposition on legal grounds. Meanwhile, energy markets responded with modest oil price increases amid concerns about supply disruption from the new U.S. measures.

Sources: The Hill, Axios, CNBC, BBC News, Reuters