Venezuela Condemns US Seizure of Oil Tankers as Extortion

Wed Dec 24 2025 20:07:45 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Venezuela has raised serious accusations against the United States during an emergency UN Security Council session, claiming acts of extortion following the US seizure of its oil tankers.

In a recent UN Security Council meeting, Venezuela accused the United States of extortion related to the seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers. Venezuelan officials termed the action 'worse than piracy,' emphasizing that it infringes upon international law. The situation escalated with the US's intent to blockade oil shipments from Venezuela. Critics warn these actions could set a troubling precedent for international relations in Latin America.

Venezuela has accused the United States of the greatest extortion at an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York.

Washington's seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers was worse than piracy, the Venezuelan ambassador to the UN said.

The emergency meeting of the Security Council was called to discuss the seizure of the tankers, which took place off the coast of Venezuela earlier this month.

The US has also said it was pursuing a third Venezuelan oil tanker.

President Trump has accused Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro of leading a drugs cartel and said gangs had operated with impunity for too long.

On 16 December, Trump ordered a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. The US president has said the US will keep or sell the crude oil contained on tankers it has seized, as well as the vessels themselves.

The US has deployed 15,000 troops and various naval assets to the Caribbean, marking the largest military presence in the area since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

Experts have raised concerns, stating that these strikes might violate international laws governing armed conflict.

Venezuela's envoy to the UN claimed the US is subjecting Venezuela to unparalleled extortionism, with actions prompting fears of a potential template for future interventions in Latin America.

In response, the US Ambassador to the UN dismissed Maduro's legitimacy and framed the seizure of Venezuelan oil as part of a broader strategy against narcotics trafficking.

Russia and China, who criticized the US actions as aggression and bullying, expressed solidarity with Venezuela during the meeting.