US Seizes Second Venezuelan Oil Tanker Following Trump’s Blockade Order

The United States has seized a second oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in international waters, marking a significant escalation in President Donald Trump’s newly announced “blockade” against the country’s oil exports.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the operation on Saturday (December 20), stating that the U.S. Coast Guard, supported by the Department of Defense, intercepted the vessel in a “pre-dawn action.” The ship, identified as the Panama-flagged tanker “Centuries,” was reportedly carrying 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil bound for China.

This move comes just days after President Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned vessels entering or leaving Venezuela. While the first vessel seized earlier this month (the Skipper) was already on the U.S. sanctions list, legal experts note that the Centuries was not previously sanctioned, signaling a more aggressive enforcement strategy by the Trump administration.

Venezuela’s Reaction: The Venezuelan government has fiercely condemned the seizure, describing it as “theft and kidnapping” and an act of “international piracy.” President Nicolás Maduro’s administration accused the U.S. of violating international law and stealing the nation’s natural resources.