Venezuela: US Seizes Russian-Flagged Tanker, Another Tied to Venezuela as Trump Widens Oil Push

Jan 8, 2026
Reuters
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The US seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, one sailing under Russia's flag, as part of President Donald Trump's aggressive push to dictate oil flows in the Americas and force Venezuela's socialist government to become an ally. After capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a Saturday military raid on Caracas, the US is escalating its blockade of vessels that are under sanctions and going to and from the South American country, a member of the OPEC oil producers group.