US forces have seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in a major escalation on

President Donald Trump confirmed the news during a meeting at the White House. It comes after the US president warned last week that military strikes would "start very soon" on land targets inside Venezuela as Washington ramps up its "war on drugs" in Latin America. Speaking to Politico on Tuesday, Trump declined to say whether US troops would enter Venezuela but said that Maduro's "days are numbered".

The Pentagon has deployed a naval force of nearly 15,000 troops near Venezuela in the Caribbean, carrying out strikes on alleged drug boats that have killed over 80 people.

20:40 Eliana Nunes

Why is Trump threatening Venezuela?

In recent weeks, the Trump administration has ramped up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

  • Trump blames Maduro for the influx of drugs - especially fentanyl and cocaine - into the US. He has designated two Venezuelan criminal groups - Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles - Foreign Terrorist Organisations, even alleging that the latter is run by Maduro himself.
  • Trump blames Maduro for the influx of Venezuelan migrants in the US.

20:27 Eliana Nunes

Where was the oil tanker seized?

The oil tanker was intercepted and seized by US forces near the coast of Venezuela.

Few details about the operation are known, but officials told Reuters that it was led by the US Coast Guard. The tanker has not been named, and it is not yet clear exactly where the incident took place.