Venezuela accuses US of 'extortion' over seizure of oil tankers

December 24, 2025

The United States has seized two Venezuelan oil tankers and is pursuing a third, prompting Venezuela to call an emergency UN Security Council meeting where it accused Washington of "extortion" and actions "worse than piracy. " The seizures are part of President Trump's December naval blockade order aimed at stopping drug trafficking, supported by 15,000 troops deployed to the region—the largest such deployment since the 1989 Panama invasion. Venezuela's UN ambassador argued the seizures violate international law and constitute "pillaging," questioning the connection between oil and drugs, while the US ambassador defended the actions by stating America doesn't recognize Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate leader and claims oil sales fund narco-terrorism.

Who is affected

Venezuela (the country and its government under President Nicolas Maduro)
The United States government and military personnel
Venezuelan oil industry workers and operations
At least 100 people killed in US strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats
15,000 US troops deployed to the Pacific and Caribbean region
Latin American states (potentially, according to Russia's warning)

What action is being taken

The US is seizing Venezuelan oil tankers (two already seized, pursuing a third)
The US is enforcing a naval blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela
The US is maintaining military presence with 15,000 troops, aircraft carriers, and warships in the Pacific and Caribbean
The US is conducting strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats
The UN Security Council is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the seizures
Russia and China are voicing opposition and calling for the US to halt its actions

Why it matters

This situation represents a significant escalation in US-Venezuela relations and raises serious questions about international law and sovereignty. The US military deployment is the largest to the region since 1989, signaling a major shift in American foreign policy toward Venezuela. The seizures blur the line between counter-narcotics operations and what Venezuela characterizes as resource theft, potentially setting a precedent for how powerful nations can act against smaller states under the justification of fighting drug trafficking. The involvement of Russia and China, who view these actions as illegal aggression, adds a geopolitical dimension that could strain international relations beyond the Western Hemisphere.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC