7 h. ago US sanctions four traders it says are shipping Venezuelan oil

Decision marks Washington’s latest move to increase pressure on Maduro regime in Caracas

Politics

7 h. ago US imposes sanctions on 4 Venezuelan oil firms and 4 more tankers in Maduro crackdown

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on four firms in Venezuela's oil sector and designated four additional oil tankers as blocked property

Events

7 d. ago Trump’s claims to Venezuelan oil are part of broader ‘resource imperialism’, experts say

Critics compare offensive to Iraq war, citing familiar mix of regime-change rhetoric, security pretexts and oil interestsDonald Trump’s recent claims that the US should keep Venezuelan oil from seized tankers are part of a broader belief in rightwing “resource imperialism”, experts say.In recent weeks, the Trump administration has escalated pressure on Venezuela, invoking drug-trafficking claims. This month, the US intercepted two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil and began pursuing a third, while intensifying its campaign against the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago US coastguard boards tanker carrying Venezuelan oil in Caribbean

The vessel is the second to be intercepted by American forces as Trump steps up pressure on Maduro

Events

1 week ago Venezuelan navy escorts oil tankers in direct challenge to Trump blockade

At least 97 people have been killed in controversial U.S. military strikes across the Caribbean

Politics

2 w. ago How Venezuela sends oil around the world despite sanctions — and why Trump wants to put a stop to it

The U.S. seized a Venezuelan oil tanker last week in a move described by Nicolas Maduro’s government as an ‘act of international piracy’

Politics

2 w. ago Venezuela accuses Trinidad and Tobago of taking part in US seizure of oil tanker

Maduro regime accuses Caribbean nation of participating in ‘theft of Venezuelan oil’ as tensions mount in regionVenezuela has accused the government of Trinidad and Tobago of taking part in the US seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast last week, as Donald Trump’s four-month pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro continues to reverberate across the region.In a statement on Monday, the Maduro regime accused Trinidad and Tobago of participating in “the theft of Venezuelan oil, committed by the US administration on 10 December with the assault on a vessel transporting this strategic Venezuelan product”. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Trump news at a glance: US seizure of Venezuela oil tanker an act of ‘maritime terrorism’, says Cuba

Cuban officials denounce the US seizure of the Skipper oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast. Key US politics stories from 13 December 2025Cuban officials have denounced the US seizure of the Skipper oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday, calling it an “act of piracy and maritime terrorism”, as well as a “serious violation of international law” that hurts the Caribbean island nation and its people.The tanker, which was reported now to be heading for Galveston, Texas, was believed to loaded with nearly 2m barrels of Venezuela’s heavy crude, according to internal data from the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, as reported by the New York Times. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Venezuela oil exports reportedly fall sharply after US seizure of tanker

The seizure of the Skipper on Wednesday marked the first US capture of Venezuelan oil cargo since sanctions were imposed in 2019Venezuelan oil exports have reportedly fallen sharply since the US seized a tanker this week and imposed fresh sanctions on shipping companies and vessels doing business with Caracas, according to shipping data, documents and maritime sources.The US seizure of the Skipper tanker off Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday was the first US capture of Venezuelan oil cargo since sanctions were imposed in 2019 and marked a sharp escalation in rising tensions between the Trump administration and the government of Nicolás Maduro. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Why is Trump going after Venezuela? His administration has so far floated these three reasons for its pressure campaign

Trump said that “other things are happening” in addition to the U.S. military’s seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker

Politics

2 w. ago Putin phones Venezuelan president to offer Russia's support after Trump seizes oil tanker off coast

Putin called Maduro a day after United States forces seized control of an oil tanker in Venezuela as part of an escalation in tensions between the Trump administration and Maduro's government.

Politics

2 w. ago US ‘prepares to board more Venezuela oil tankers’ as White House ‘won’t watch them sail the seas’ & sanctions 6 more

US officials are reportedly preparing to storm and seize more tankers transporting Venezuelan oil to put pressure on dictator Nicolás Maduro. Tensions between Washington and Caracas escalated when rifle-wielding US troops rappelled from helicopters to raid an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Stunning footage showed commandos sweeping through the ship as they executed...

Events

2 w. ago US seizure of rogue oil tanker off Venezuela signals new crackdown on shadow fleet

The recent seizure of an oil tanker known as Skipper by the U.S. off the coast of Venezuela marks a dramatic escalation of President Donald Trump’s campaign to choke off Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s access to oil revenues

Events

2 w. ago White House intends to seize oil from stormed Venezuelan tanker it claims is Iran ‘shadow vessel’: Live updates

White House will also conduct an investigation of the vessel, including by interviewing those aboard

Events

2 w. ago Noem defends seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker and gets combative with Democrats during Congressional hearing: Live updates

Noem’s testimony comes a day after the US escalated tensions with Venezuela by seizing an oil tanker off the country’s coast

Politics

2 w. ago US lawmakers condemn seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker: ‘Trump is sleepwalking us into a war’

Unease grows in Washington, including among some Republicans, over Trump administration’s escalating military posture in the CaribbeanUS politics live – latest updatesSenior Democratic lawmakers and at least one Republican have condemned Wednesday’s seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker off the nation’s coast, with one saying Donald Trump is “sleepwalking us into a war with Venezuela”.There is growing, at least somewhat bipartisan unease in Washington over the administration’s escalating military posture in the region. Trump has accused Venezuela of facilitating drug trafficking, and increased the US military presence in the Caribbean to a level not seen in decades. The administration has also conducted a campaign of bombings of alleged drug boats, killing more than 80 people so far. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Video shows moment US seizes Venezuelan oil tanker, Trump administration says

The Trump administration has released video of what it says is the seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela following months of US military buildup around the region.

Politics

3 w. ago Dramatic moment Trump's troops storm Venezuelan oil tanker as tensions escalate

Dramatic footage shows the moment US forces rappelled onto a Venezuelan oil tanker

Events

3 w. ago Trump admin releases video of US seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker amid buildup of forces in region: Live updates

Trump announced the seized tanker Wednesday, marking the latest move amid growing tensions between the two countries

Politics

3 w. ago 'He'll be next': Trump fires chilling threat at Latin American leader as US gunships seize Venezuelan oil tanker

Donald Trump told reporters at the White house on Wednesday: 'He's gonna have himself some big problems if he doesn't wise up.'

Events