US seizes second oil tanker near Venezuela
US authorities have seized a second oil tanker that recently left Venezuelan waters, escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas over sanctions and maritime enforcement. According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the vessel was intercepted in international waters in an operation led by the US Coast Guard. It marks the second oil tanker seized off Venezuela’s coast this month. The action follows a statement by US President Donald Trump earlier this week, in which he said he had ordered a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. US officials argue that such operations are aimed at disrupting illegal oil shipments linked to criminal networks. Venezuela strongly condemned the seizure, accusing the United States of “theft and kidnapping”. In an official statement, the Venezuelan government warned that the incident would not go unanswered and said it plans […]