Officials of the Nicolas Maduro government asserted that the new seizure of a ship transporting crude oil is a "robbery and kidnapping" by the United States. This is the second oil tanker seized by the country in the Caribbean in less than two weeks.

In a statement, the Chavista government described the act as “piracy” and also denounced the “forced disappearance” of the crew.

“They will not go unpunished”

The South American country warned that “these acts will not go unpunished” and that it will take “all appropriate actions, including filing a complaint with the United Nations Security Council, other multilateral organizations, and the governments of the world. the Caribbean, which, according to media reports, was flying a Panamanian flag.

“In an operation at dawn today, December 20, the US Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, intercepted an oil tanker that had recently docked in Venezuela,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, in a video posted on “The Coast Guard also released photographs of the operation and stated that “@USCG, in coordination with the @DeptofWar sanction, executed a lightning operation to seize the tanker Centuries, suspected of carrying oil subject to US sanctions."This is the second vessel intercepted in the Caribbean by the Trump administration. On December 10, it seized the Skipper and confiscated its crude oil. The operation was originally reported by media outlets such as The New York Times, which confirmed that the detained vessel is named Centuries and is not on the list of tankers sanctioned by the US, according to a US official and two sources in the Venezuelan oil industry. The newspaper indicates that the vessel belongs to a China-based oil company that transports Venezuelan crude to refineries in the Asian giant. Trump has intensified [the sanctions] in recent [the measures]. The US has been increasing its pressure on Venezuela for weeks and recently ordered a total blockade on the entry and exit of oil tankers sanctioned by the US government. In this context, Iran offered Venezuela its cooperation “in all areas” to confront US “piracy and international terrorism,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Saturday after a call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi. is scheduled to meet next Tuesday afternoon, the 23rd, to discuss the situation in the South American country, as confirmed to EFE by the rotating presidency of the body. The US government accuses Nicolas Maduro of using what it calls a “ghost fleet,” obsolete ships used to supply oil to clients and nations considered to be opposed to Washington's policies. With information from EFE

Trump has intensified his pressure on Venezuela in recent weeks and recently ordered a total blockade on the entry and exit of oil tankers sanctioned by the US government.

In this context, Iran offered Venezuela its cooperation “in all areas” to confront US “piracy and international terrorism,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Saturday after a call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi.

Last Wednesday, Venezuela requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, which is scheduled to meet next Tuesday afternoon, the 23rd, to discuss the situation in the South American country, as confirmed to EFE by the rotating presidency of the body.

The US government Nicolas Maduro accuses of using what it calls a “ghost fleet,” obsolete ships used to supply oil to clients and nations considered to be opposed to Washington's policies.

With information from EFE