The US military has seized a seventh Venezuela-linked oil tanker as part of its blockade on oil vessels leaving and entering the country, tightening control over the production and sale of Venezuelan oil. The seizures began on December 10, escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela, culminating in a predawn military operation authorized by President Trump to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The US has framed the tanker seizures as a way to enforce sanctions and control Venezuela’s oil sales, with Trump claiming to have taken 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela and selling it on the open market. Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez stated that her country received $300m from recent oil sales, signaling plans to reform the hydrocarbon law to allow more foreign investment.
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