USA stopped Venezuelan oil tanker again – piracy or right?

USA stopped Venezuelan oil tanker again – piracy or right?

On Sunday, December 21, 2025, the United States intercepted another vessel off the coast of Venezuela in international waters. The incident marks the second such operation this weekend, after US President Donald Trump announced a comprehensive "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. The US government did not release any further details about the intercepted Panama-flagged ship called Centuries or its exact location.

US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem confirmed on Saturday that the military was involved in the detention of the ship. At the same time, a White House spokeswoman, Anna Kelly, said that the ship was part of the Venezuelan “shadow fleet” that was allegedly smuggling stolen oil. The Venezuelan government under President Nicolás Maduro has described the incident as a “serious act of international piracy” and accused the US of “theft and kidnapping” as well as the “forced disappearance of the crew”.

International reactions and geopolitical tensions

The incident is reported to the UN Security Council, indicating the seriousness of the situation. Analysts see these seizures as an increased risk to geopolitical stability, particularly regarding the shadow fleet that transports oil from other sanctioned countries such as Russia and Iran. Tensions between the USA and Venezuela have recently worsened: Trump described the Venezuelan government as a terrorist organization and threatened possible US ground operations.

An oil trader predicted a slight price increase at the start of trading in Asia, while UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo pointed out that market participants could perceive these actions as an escalation. There is also the possibility that oil exporting countries will respond with higher discounts on their products, as logistical handling could become more costlier as a result of such geopolitical conflicts.

Oil market and future developments

The ongoing blockage and seized ships could see crude oil prices rise slightly on Monday, the start of Asian trading. Crude oil prices have already been in a bullish trend in recent days and are subject to fluctuations influenced, among other things, by geopolitical developments in the Middle East and the strained relations between Venezuela and the USA. The uncertainties surrounding US sanctions and the impact on the oil sector could continue to cause volatility in the market in the coming weeks, especially considering the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine.

Independent experts and OPEC officials warn that structural problems in Venezuela's oil industry, such as poor infrastructure and inadequate investment, could hamper a significant increase in oil production even if sanctions are lifted. This could lead to price stabilization even if geopolitical tensions remain.

Therefore, market participants are closely monitoring possible developments that could affect both the supply and demand sides of oil prices. A return to stable price levels is anything but certain given the volatile geopolitical landscape and economic conditions.

For more information on this topic see Vienna.at, Tagesschau.de and Finmagazin.de.