On Wednesday, Venezuela sharply criticized the U.S. for confiscating a sanctioned oil tanker near its coast, labeling the action as “international piracy.” The Venezuelan government issued a strong statement, condemning the event as an overt act of theft.

“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela emphatically denounces and rejects what it sees as blatant theft and an act of international piracy,” the Venezuelan government declared. This accusation came after the U.S. President openly acknowledged the seizure of an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea. The government’s statement was featured in an official communiqué published by Correo del Orinoco, a state-run news organization.

The publication, which frequently disseminates the Venezuelan administration’s announcements, suggested that this seizure is part of an ongoing campaign against Venezuela’s sovereignty and its natural resources.

In response, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that a coordinated operation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with assistance from the Department of Defense, carried out the seizure. The operation targeted a crude oil tanker purportedly used to transport oil from Venezuela and Iran in defiance of sanctions.

Reports indicated that U.S. forces boarded the vessel with weapons drawn, underscoring the tense nature of the operation. The incident has amplified tensions between the two nations, with both sides firmly holding their ground.

“For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations,” she said on X. “This seizure, completed off the coast of Venezuela, was conducted safely and securely—and our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues.”

Bondi released unclassified video footage of the operation that showed a helicopter approaching the large tanker and tactical personnel repelling down a rope onto the deck.

Newly released footage shows U.S. forces securing a Venezuelan oil tanker. (@AGPamBondi via X)

President Donald Trump made the seizure announcement on Wednesday while speaking at a roundtable event at the White House with business leaders.

“As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. A large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized actually,” Trump told reporters. “And, other things are happening. So you’ll be seeing that later, and you’ll be talking about that later with some other people.”

President Donald Trump looks on during a roundtable discussion in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 10, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

“It was seized for a very good reason,” he later added.

Asked by a reporter what would happen to the oil aboard the tanker, Trump responded: “Well, we keep it, I guess.”

A short time later, he said, “I assume we’re going to keep the oil.”