US places sanctions on six more ships after seizing oil tanker off Venezuela
WASHINGTON – The White House said Thursday that an oil tanker seized by U.S. forces off the coast of Venezuela will be taken to an American port, where the United States plans to confiscate its cargo.
by U.S. forces off the coast of Venezuela will be taken to an American port, where the United States plans to confiscate its cargo. · Nehanda RadioThe takeover, carried out by troops who fast-roped from a helicopter onto the deck, targeted what officials described as an illicit network moving sanctioned Venezuelan oil.
The operation marks a sharp escalation in tensions between Washington and Caracas.
Donald Trump’s administration has deployed naval assets to the region for months and has carried out strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels that have killed nearly 90 people.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the raid was aimed at President Nicolás Maduro’s “regime.”
Venezuela denounced the seizure as “international piracy,” and Maduro accused the United States of stealing the ship and threatening global oil trade.
“They kidnapped the crew, stole the ship and have inaugurated a new era, the era of criminal naval piracy in the Caribbean. Venezuela will secure all ships to guarantee the free trade of its oil around the world,” Maduro said.
Russian president Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed support during a phone call with his ally Maduro but analysts say Moscow’s ability to help is limited as its forces remain engaged in Ukraine.
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U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres called for restraint, warning that any further escalation could destabilize the region.
His spokesman said; “We are calling on all actors to refrain from action that could further escalate bilateral tensions and destabilise Venezuela and the region.”
Some U.S. lawmakers questioned the legality of the seizure. Sen. Dick Durbin said the move risked becoming an “act of war” and warned that a U.S. invasion of Venezuela would lack public support.
“Any president, before he engages in an act of war, has to have the authorisation of the American people through Congress.
“This president is preparing for an invasion of Venezuela, simply said. And if the American people are in favor of that, I’d be surprised,” Durbin told CNN.
The tanker was reportedly en route to Cuba.
The United States on Thursday also imposed new sanctions on several of Maduro’s relatives and six companies accused of shipping Venezuelan oil.
Trump said this week that Maduro’s “days are numbered” and again refused to rule out military action.
Meanwhile Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said Thursday she was able to leave the country with help from the United States after spending more than a year in hiding.
“We had support from the United States government,” Machado told reporters in Oslo, where she arrived to take part in events marking her receipt of the Nobel Peace Prize.