In a sharp escalation of tensions between Washington and Caracas, the United States has seized a large Venezuelan oil tanker off the Caribbean coast, prompting fierce denunciations from the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

What To Know

Initial reports on Wednesday cited U.S. officials saying the Coast Guard carried out the tanker seizure under international maritime law, targeting vessels tied to alleged illicit PDVSA-linked crude shipments.

U.S President Donald Trump later confirmed the seizure, hinting that “other things are happening,” but offered no further details.

A senior Trump administration official described the move as a “judicial enforcement action on a stateless vessel” last docked in Venezuela.

Oil prices jumped on the news: Brent crude rose 0.8 percent to $62.35

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