The United States has signaled it will not back down in its escalating standoff with Venezuela, as President Donald Trump announced that crude oil seized from Venezuelan tankers could either be kept by the US, sold on the market, or added to the country’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The vessels themselves, he added, will also remain under US control.
Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump framed the seizures as part of Washington’s broader effort to choke off revenue streams allegedly used by President Nicolás Maduro’s government to fund drug-related crime. According to Trump, the decision on what to do with the oil is flexible but final in one sense: the US is keeping it.
This latest development comes amid a sharp increase in US military activity in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. Earlier this month, US forces seized two oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela, including one intercepted over the weekend. American authorities say they are also tracking a third vessel described as part of a Venezuelan “dark fleet” — ships accused of evading international sanctions through covert operations.
Trump made it clear that the pursuit is ongoing, saying US forces expect to take control of the third tanker as well. Separately, the US military confirmed it carried out a strike on a suspected trafficking vessel in international waters in the eastern Pacific, resulting in one death, according to US Southern Command.
When questioned on whether these actions were intended to force Maduro out of power, Trump suggested the pressure could have that effect, while emphasizing that the final decision rests with the Venezuelan leader. Since returning to office in January, Trump has doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture, accusing him of being deeply involved in international drug trafficking. The US has also formally designated Maduro’s government as a foreign terrorist organisation.
The administration’s stance has drawn criticism, particularly due to the lack of publicly released evidence linking the seized vessels to drug trafficking. US military operations in the region, which have reportedly resulted in around 100 deaths in recent years, are facing increased scrutiny from Congress.
Trump further escalated tensions by stating that the US is prepared to expand its campaign beyond the sea, warning that similar operations could begin on land. He argued the measures are necessary to prevent drugs from entering the United States, using stark language to underline his administration’s hardline approach.
In response, Maduro dismissed Trump’s remarks, urging the US president to focus on domestic economic and social challenges instead of intervening in Venezuela’s affairs. Caracas has condemned the tanker seizures as acts of piracy and warned they could destabilize the region.
Last week, Washington ordered what it described as a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela — a move that has sparked outrage among Venezuelan officials. With oil exports serving as the backbone of Venezuela’s public finances, the measures threaten to deepen the country’s economic crisis.
At Venezuela’s request, the United Nations Security Council is scheduled to hold an emergency session to discuss what the government has called ongoing US aggression, setting the stage for an international showdown over the legality and consequences of the US actions.
Bottom line: this is no longer just about oil tankers. It’s a high-stakes geopolitical chess match, and both sides are pushing their pieces hard — with global attention now firmly locked on what comes next.