12.12.2025 00:35
The United States is preparing to seize oil from a tanker captured off the coast of Venezuela. The current market value of the oil on the tanker is estimated to be between 60 and 100 million dollars. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "The ship will be directed to a U.S. port. The United States plans to take control of this oil."
The U.S. will not return the oil from the seized tanker off the coast of Venezuela. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the oil, valued between 60 and 100 million dollars, will also be confiscated.
In response to questions during the daily press briefing, Leavitt stated that the ship would be directed to a U.S. port and that the control of the oil would be seized by the United States through legal procedures.
Leavitt explained that the seizure of the oil would go through a legal process and that this process would be conducted meticulously. "The ship will be directed to a U.S. port, and the United States plans to take control of this oil," she said.
1.6 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL WERE ON BOARD
According to a report by Reuters, the tanker named Skipper had loaded approximately 1.8 million barrels of oil in early December and had transferred about 200,000 barrels of oil elsewhere just before its seizure.
OPERATIONS AGAINST VENEZUELA
The U.S. military has been conducting operations near Venezuela since September, in line with the Trump administration's goals of preventing drug entry into the country and enforcing sanctions. In this context, 87 people have lost their lives in attacks on vessels belonging to Venezuela.
"WE ARE FOCUSING ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR BACKYARD"
Leavitt stated, "The President is implementing an approach that no administration has adopted for a long time and is focusing on what is happening in our backyard. Controlling the flow of oil and drugs is among the administration's top priorities."
The administration also emphasized that vessels under sanctions would not be allowed to operate with black market oil and that the proceeds would not be permitted to finance illegal regimes or drug terrorism.
WHAT HAPPENED?
On Wednesday, December 10, President Trump stated that they had seized the oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela "for good reason" and that they would hold onto the tanker.
Not going into much detail about the tanker, Trump said, "Photos related to the incident will be released soon. You will discuss the details with the relevant parties. It was seized for a very good reason."
It is reported that most of the oil tankers departing from Venezuela are transporting oil to China.