Venezuela Denounces US 'Extortion' Over Oil Tankers Seizure

Wed Dec 24 2025 14:34:02 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Amid international tension, Venezuela's UN ambassador accuses the US of unlawful practices during a Security Council session, following the seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers.

At a recent UN Security Council meeting, Venezuela condemned the US for its seizure of two oil tankers, labeling it as 'extortion' and worse than piracy. The incident drew global attention as Venezuela’s envoy denounced US military actions in the Caribbean and called for respect for international laws. In response, the US ambassador dismissed claims of legality regarding Venezuela’s leadership, labeling President Maduro as a narco-terrorist. The incident highlights escalating tensions between the nations in the backdrop of larger geopolitical dynamics involving Russia and China.

Venezuela has accused the United States of the 'greatest extortion' at an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York. The accusation comes after Washington seized two Venezuelan oil tankers, described as 'worse than piracy' by the Venezuelan ambassador to the UN.

This emergency meeting was convened to address the seizure, which occurred off the coast of Venezuela earlier this month, with the US expressing intentions to pursue a third tanker as well.

In the wake of these events, President Trump has called for a naval blockade against sanctioned oil tankers both entering and leaving Venezuela, threatening to keep or sell the oil from those tankers.

President Trump stated that the deployment of 15,000 troops and various naval assets to the Caribbean aims to halt the transport of illegal drugs, emphasizing that US actions are directed at combating drug trafficking without acknowledgment of international law.

Venezuela's envoy, Samuel Moncada, described the US's behavior in the Caribbean as 'pillaging' and a breach of sovereignty, stating that it lacked any legal jurisdiction in the region.

Concurrently, the US ambassador, Michael Waltz, reiterated that the US does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, asserting that the profits from oil sales fuel his 'illegitimate' claims to power.

Maduro, meanwhile, asserted that the Security Council supports Venezuela, prompting criticism from Russia and China who denounced US actions as bullying and threatening regional stability.

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