Venezuela slams US ‘theft, hijacking’ of second oil tanker, vows to take case to UN
The Venezuelan government has categorically denounced the United States’ “theft and hijacking” of a second oil tanker off the country’s coast, vowing to pursue legal avenues against Washington, including filing a complaint with the UN.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez made the remarks in a statement on Saturday after US forces boarded and seized the Panama-flagged Centuries tanker laden with up to 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude in the Caribbean Sea.
Rodriguez, who doubles as Venezuela’s petroleum minister, condemned the US’s illegal actions as a “serious act of international piracy.”
Caracas “denounces and rejects the theft and hijacking of a new private vessel transporting oil, as well as the forced disappearance of its crew, committed by military personnel of the United States of America in international waters,” she said.
Rodriguez also emphasized that the Venezuelan people will defeat the “colonialist model” that the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to impose on the nation.
“These acts will not go unpunished,” she said, adding that her country will take “all corresponding actions, including filing a complaint before the United Nations Security Council, other multilateral organizations, and the governments of the world.”
Earlier in the day, US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a video of US forces confiscating the oil tanker and said the United States will continue to pursue the alleged “illicit movement of sanctioned oil.”
However, Jeremy Paner, a partner at Hughes Hubbard law firm in Washington, said the seized vessel has not been sanctioned by the US.
On Tuesday, Trump ordered a blockade of oil tankers transiting Venezuela and claimed that the country had stolen US “oil, land, and other assets.”
Venezuela's UN Ambassador Samuel Moncada blasted Washington’s rhetoric as a “grotesque offense” to civilized norms and a return to 19th-century imperialist policies.
On December 10, the US attacked and seized a commercial vessel, called the Skipper, which was carrying Venezuelan crude oil off the country’s coast in an act of naval piracy.
The US has in recent months mounted its pressure campaign on Venezuela that has included moving thousands of troops and a carrier strike group into the Caribbean and repeating threats against President Nicolas Maduro.
Meanwhile, US forces have conducted a wave of lethal strikes on suspected drug boats and killed more than 104 people since September.
Caracas says Washington is seeking a “regime change” in Venezuela with the ultimate goal of stealing the country’s oil wealth.
US-led meeting talks implementation of ‘phase two’ of Gaza ceasefire, ignoring Israeli violations
Use and throw: As US foreign policy priorities shift and Europe falters, Ukraine pays the price
How Israel hijacked US politics, media and tech – without Americans even realizing
UK doctor arrested under pressure from Israel lobby over ‘anti-genocide posts’
VIDEO | Art and civic imagination
Algeria moves to criminalize French colonial rule amid strained ties
Iran's cyber prowess: A strategic pillar of national defense and asymmetric power
Iran’s four-decade transport transformation
Jeffrey Epstein introduced Trump to 14-year-old girl, court documents reveal
Lebanese government offering free concessions to Israel: Lawmaker
US actions against Venezuela endanger peace, stability: Iran FM
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
