The Trump administration has intensified its campaign against Venezuela following the seizure of an oil tanker near the nation’s shores.

US Coast Guard forces executed the operation, officials disclosed on Wednesday, as a significant American naval presence continues to grow in the area.

Details regarding the precise location of the seizure and the identity of the oil tanker remain undisclosed.

This action triggered a noticeable surge in oil prices on Wednesday, with Brent crude climbing 1.21% to reach $62.69 per barrel, as concerns mounted over potential disruptions to global supply.

Venezuela plays a crucial role in supplying oil to China, accounting for between 55% and 90% of its oil exports being directed to the Asian nation.

A Bloomberg report called the move ‘a serious escalation’ after Trump demanded Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro step down. 

‘As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large,’ Trump said while speaking to reporters in the White House.

‘Largest one ever seized, actually. And other things are happening, so you’ll be seeing that later and you’ll be talking about that later with some other people.’

Donald Trump bragged about seizing Venezuela’s largest oil tanker during a White House press conference on Wednesday

The seizure comes as the administration has launched a series of strikes since early September against alleged Venezuelan drug boats that have killed 80 people

Trump has positioned a fleet of Naval warships across the Caribbean Sea around Venezuela

The Daily Mail reached out to White House for comment. 

When asked about what the US will do with the oil seized from the Venezuelan tanker, Trump said, ‘We keep it.’ 

This week’s seizure marks the first time the Trump administration has moved to interfere with the country’s oil distribution amid the hostile pressure campaign. 

When a reporter on Wednesday asked Trump about who owns the seized oil tanker, the President responded, ‘You’ll get that information later.’

Venezuela’s main source of annual revenue comes from oil exports abroad to Russia, China, and other Caribbean nations. 

Last month, Maduro’s regime exported more than 900,000 barrels of oil per day. 

Meanwhile, as Venezuela scrambles to preserve its fossil-fuel empire, Trump has ordered dozens of lethal military strikes on alleged drug-running boats departing the country.

More than 80 people have been killed in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean as part of the strikes aimed at combating drug trafficking.

Trump has previously hinted at launching US ground forces in Venezuela as part of the administration’s efforts to target alleged narco-terrorists in the region.

‘We’re going to start doing those strikes on land, too,’ Trump told reporters last week at a Cabinet meeting. 

‘You know, the land is much easier … And we know the routes they take. We know everything about them. We know where they live. We know where the bad ones live. And we’re going to start that very soon, too.’

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is facing a barrage of criticism for approving strikes on Venezuelan drug ships – and especially regarding the now-infamous second strike on the first attack in September that neutralized two survivors.

The controversy all stems from the strike against a vessel in the Caribbean Sea that the Trump administration claimed was carrying cocaine en route to the US.

A US missile strike disabled the speedboat and killed most on board. But two survivors were observed clinging to the wreckage and were thought to be attempting to radio for help.

Pentagon officials have justified the administration’s action by arguing the decision to authorize the second strike on September 2 was based on a perceived ongoing threat.