Venezuela accuses US of 'blatant theft' after tanker seized in Caribbean

A U.S. military helicopter flies near an oil tanker during a raid described by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as its seizure by the United States off the coast of Venezuela, December 10, 2025, in a still image from video. U.S. Attorney General/Handout via REUTERS

CARACAS, Dec 10 - The Venezuelan government has accused the United States of "blatant theft" after it seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, it said in a statement.

The Venezuelan government said it would "defend its sovereignty, natural resources, and national dignity with absolute determination," and said it would denounce the seizure of the tanker before international bodies.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the seizure of the ship earlier on Wednesday, a move that sent oil prices higher and sharply escalated tensions between Washington and Caracas.

(Reporting by Vivian Sequera; Editing by Sarah Morland)