Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday (December 12, 2025) slammed the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker from his country, calling it an act of “naval piracy” that escalated tensions between Washington and Caracas.

“They kidnapped the crew, stole the ship and have inaugurated a new era, the era of criminal naval piracy in the Caribbean,” Mr. Maduro said at a presidential event, adding, “Venezuela will secure all ships to guarantee the free trade of its oil around the world.”

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