A sharp escalation in tensions between the United States and Venezuela has unfolded after U.S. forces intercepted and seized a large Venezuelan oil tanker in international waters near the Venezuelan coast.
The vessel, identified as the Skipper, was reportedly transporting crude oil tied to networks operating under U.S. sanctions. According to American officials, the operation involved the U.S. Coast Guard with support from the Navy and federal agencies, and was carried out as part of broader efforts to enforce sanctions and disrupt illicit oil shipments, including those connected to Iran.
President Donald Trump later confirmed the operation, saying the U.S. had “a very good reason” for taking the tanker and even remarked that America would “keep the oil.”
The move comes amid an intensified U.S. presence in the Caribbean and recent military activity near Venezuelan airspace. Washington has framed these actions as part of its strategy to target criminal networks and narcotics trafficking linked to the Maduro regime.
Critics, however, argue that the U.S. is signaling a more forceful push to weaken Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has remained in power despite years of sanctions, political unrest, and economic collapse.
The Venezuelan government reacted with fury, condemning the tanker seizure as an act of “international piracy” and the theft of Venezuelan national resources.
President Maduro accused the United States of attempting to destabilize Venezuela and undermine its sovereignty. In a highly charged statement, he vowed that his country would “break America’s teeth” if further provoked, framing the confrontation as a battle against what he calls U.S. imperial aggression.
Officials in Caracas also suggested that the United States was attempting to distract from recent political developments inside Venezuela, including the international recognition of opposition leader María Corina Machado.
International responses to the event have been mixed. While Maduro’s supporters describe the act as unlawful and provocative, some opposition figures and foreign observers view the tanker’s seizure as a blow against Maduro’s sanctioned oil networks and a sign of increasing pressure on his administration.
Global oil markets reacted quickly to the incident, with crude prices rising amid concerns that the confrontation could disrupt regional oil flows.
End Time Headlines is a ministry founded, owned, and operated by Ricky Scaparo, established in 2010 to equip believers and inform discerning individuals about the “Signs and Seasons” of the times in which we live. Ricky authors original articles and curates news from mainstream sources, carefully selecting topics, verifying information, and utilizing artificial intelligence tools to ensure content is both timely and accurate. Every piece is personally reviewed and edited by Ricky to align with the ministry’s mission of providing a prophetic perspective on current events.