The US military seized a ship off the coast of Venezuela in international waters. The tanker was carrying oil.
Points of attention
- The US military seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in international waters, leading to a reduction in Venezuelan oil exports.
- US actions, including tanker seizures and attacks on ships, could have a serious impact on Venezuela's economy.
- President Trump has hinted at the possibility of waging war against Venezuela and regaining control of the country's oil resources.
US seizes another tanker near Venezuela
This was reported by Reuters, citing its own sources in the US federal government.
The operation, conducted by a unit of the U.S. Coast Guard, is the second time in recent weeks that the United States has seized a tanker near Venezuela. Since the first seizure, Venezuelan crude oil exports have plummeted.
The US military is increasing its presence in the region near Venezuela.
Earlier, US President Trump ordered a complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
In early September, the U.S. military attacked a Venezuelan vessel in the Caribbean Sea that was suspected of carrying drugs. Trump said that 11 militants were killed in the attack. On September 15, Trump reported another military attack on another Venezuelan boat in international waters, killing three men.
On December 17, Donald Trump said that America wants to regain oil rights in Venezuela, which he said were lost.
On December 19, Trump said he did not rule out the possibility of war against Venezuela. The US is allegedly seizing oil tankers and attacking ships near Venezuela in order to "shut down the country's economy," Trump said.
