Lawmakers Condemn US decision to Seize Venezuelan Oil Tanker:Warning Trump is ‘Sleepwalking Us Into a War’
London-UK, December 12, 2025
US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker: A Major Escalation Warning
The Trump administration has ignited a firestorm of international controversy and domestic political condemnation following the dramatic seizure of a massive oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
This US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker operation, which involved US military forces fast-roping onto the deck of the vessel, is the latest and most aggressive escalation in Washington’s ongoing pressure campaign against the regime of Nicolás Maduro, prompting senior US lawmakers to warn that President Donald Trump is “sleepwalking us into a war” with the South American nation.
The tanker, identified by maritime analysts as the Skipper, is a very large crude carrier (VLCC) believed to be carrying over one million barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude oil.
The operation, which took place on Wednesday, was executed by the US Coast Guard, the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under a seizure warrant. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the action, stating the vessel was seized due to its involvement in an “illicit oil shipping network” that transports sanctioned oil from both Venezuela and Iran, an operation the administration links to supporting foreign terrorist organizations.
Headlines Points
Dramatic Seizure:
US forces executed a dramatic maritime operation, seizing the VLCC Skipper off the Venezuelan coast.
Contradictory Location:
Analysis of satellite imagery and transponder data suggests the vessel was “spoofing” its location, falsely reporting its position to avoid detection while loading sanctioned oil.
International Piracy:
Venezuela’s government denounced the action as “a blatant theft and an act of international piracy,” asserting the move is solely about seizing their oil wealth.
War Warning from Congress:
Senior US Democratic and at least one Republican lawmaker vehemently condemned the seizure, arguing it is an illegal act of war that bypasses Congressional authority.
Escalating Pressure:
The seizure signals a sharp and dangerous escalation in the US administration’s long-running efforts to cripple Venezuela’s economy and force regime change.
The Shadow Fleet and Deception
The seizure marks a significant, physical interdiction of what is known as the “shadow fleet”—a network of vessels that engage in deceptive shipping practices to move oil from sanctioned nations like Venezuela, Iran, and Russia.
The Skipper reportedly engaged in one of the most common tactics used by this fleet: “spoofing” its Automated Identification System (AIS) transponder.
While the ship was transmitting a signal that placed it hundreds of miles away, satellite imagery confirmed it was actually docked at Venezuela’s José oil terminal loading its massive cargo.
Experts believe the vessel may have been destined for Cuba, or a final buyer in Asia, with the goal of evading the extensive US sanctions.
The sheer size and nature of the operation—utilizing special forces fast-roping from helicopters—was immediately publicized by the US administration through video footage, serving as a powerful warning shot to other black-market oil operators.
Claire Jungman, Director of Maritime Risk and Intelligence at Vortexa, noted that this physical seizure dramatically increases the cost of doing business with Venezuela, potentially deterring even the most “risk-tolerant operators” from participating in the oil-smuggling trade.
The seizure is expected to place further pressure on Caracas, which has relied on these illicit sales to sustain its economy amidst crippling sanctions.
Lawmakers Express Grave Concern
The most immediate and politically charged fallout has come from Capitol Hill, where lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed alarm over the administration’s unilateral military action.
Senator Chris Coons (Democrat, Delaware) was particularly critical, stating he had “no idea why the president is seizing an oil tanker” and was “gravely concerned that he’s sleepwalking us into a war with Venezuela.”
Senator Rand Paul (Republican, Kentucky) echoed the concern, calling the seizure “an initiation of war” and questioning the proper role of the American government in engaging in such aggressive acts without a clear legal mandate or Congressional approval.
Other senior Democratic figures, including Senator Adam Schiff, called the move a “very dangerous escalation and a prelude to potential conflict.”
Critics argue that the action is not merely about enforcing sanctions but is a clear attempt at escalating tensions toward a full-blown conflict or a military-enforced oil blockade, a move that would bypass legislative oversight and expand unchecked executive power.
The US administration, however, insists the seizure is a legal counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics measure taken under a judicial warrant, consistent with its four-month-old campaign in the region, which has already involved numerous strikes on smaller vessels.
Venezuela’s Cry of ‘Piracy’
In Caracas, the response was one of defiant outrage. The government of President Nicolás Maduro issued a blistering statement, condemning the seizure as an “act of international piracy” and “blatant theft.”
The statement claimed the incident finally revealed the true motive of the US aggression: “It has always been about our natural resources, our oil, our energy, the resources that belong exclusively to the Venezuelan people.”
President Trump, when asked about the oil aboard the seized vessel, stated simply, “Well, we keep it, I guess,” confirming the US intent to profit from the cargo. This statement only fueled the Venezuelan government’s narrative that the action constitutes a resource grab.
The ongoing crisis in Venezuela, which the US has framed as a response to a “narcoterrorism” regime, has also been viewed by critics as a mechanism for the administration to solidify executive power at home by invoking broad, emergency authorities that sidestep Congressional approval. The seizure of the Skipper is seen by many analysts as a defining moment—a significant, tangible step toward an economic blockade that could further destabilize the Western Hemisphere and pose a grave challenge to international maritime law.
