The US Southern Command, in a post on its X platform monitored by the Yemeni news agency Saba, stated that US military forces, in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security, seized the oil tanker “Sagita” without incident.
It added that the “Sagita” was “defying the embargo imposed by President Trump on sanctioned vessels” and was therefore detained.
The Southern Command, which oversees approximately 12 warships and thousands of troops in the Caribbean region, accompanied its post, which stated, “The only oil that will leave Venezuela is that which is properly and legally coordinated,” with an aerial video of the ship.
Trump claims that Venezuelan oil is now under Washington’s control, announcing that he has already seized and sold quantities.
Venezuelan authorities deny this, stating that the country’s oil remains under their control and that the state-owned Venezuelan oil company is negotiating with the United States regarding oil sales.
On January 3, the United States launched a large-scale attack on Venezuela has been targeted by the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.
The US aggression and kidnapping operation have been met with a wave of angry international condemnation, which considers it a serious violation of international law and a dangerous precedent that threatens the stability and sovereignty of nations.
