US President Donald Trump has announced that US forces have seized a very large oil tanker off Venezuela, at a time when tensions between Washington and Caracas have escalated.
According to CBS News, the tanker that has been impounded is named "The Skipper".
United States Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the tanker is subject to sanctions starting in 2022 due to its alleged ties to Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah.
He spoke of an FBI operation with the support of the Ministry of Defense, releasing - in fact - visual material, in which armed soldiers are depicted disembarking on the deck of the tanker.
The Venezuelan government accused the United States of "brazen theft" and "international piracy."
In his announcement, the country's foreign minister, Ivan Hill, notes - among other things - that with this criminal action, the American president confirms that their aim has always been to seize Venezuela's oil without paying anything. He adds that Trump's aggressive policy towards Venezuela is part of a plan to strip the country of its energy wealth.
The US government is stepping up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with Donald Trump declaring that his days in power are numbered.
Source: Radio RIK, APE
PAS, CHR
