Venezuela Denounces "Blatant Theft" of Oil Tanker by U.S. in Caribbean

The Government of Venezuela denounced this Wednesday the theft of an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea by the United States, within the context of the military threat from the Donald Trump administration in this region.

In an official statement, the Foreign Ministry repudiated "what constitutes a blatant robbery and an act of international piracy, publicly announced by the President of the United States, who confessed to the assault of an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea."

The Foreign Ministry recalled that this is not the first time he has admitted it, "as during his 2024 campaign he openly stated that his goal has always been to take Venezuelan oil without paying any compensation in return, making it clear that the policy of aggression against our country is part of a deliberate plan to strip us of our energy riches."

It further denounces that this new criminal act adds to the theft of Citgo, an important asset of the strategic heritage of all Venezuelans, seized through fraudulent judicial mechanisms and outside any norm.

The Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that "humanity is awakening and fighting against the imperial abuses of the North," as shown by "numerous and well-attended protest demonstrations in various U.S. states and European cities." The people of Venezuela, it adds, "have also given a resounding demonstration in the streets of Venezuela to defend the peace of our country."

It maintained that under these circumstances, "the true reasons for the prolonged aggression against Venezuela have finally been laid bare. It is not migration. It is not drug trafficking. It is not democracy. It is not human rights. It has always been about our natural wealth, our oil, our energy, the resources that belong exclusively to the Venezuelan people."

It denounced that this act of piracy "seeks to distract attention and cover up the resounding failure of the political show staged today in Oslo, where the manipulations and lack of results of those who have for years attempted, without success, a 'regime change' operation through violence and in open complicity with Western governments were once again exposed."

The statement reiterates the call to all Venezuelans to remain steadfast in defense of the homeland and exhorts the international community "to reject this vandalistic, illegal, and unprecedented aggression that some seek to normalize as a tool of pressure and plunder."

The Bolivarian Government reaffirms that it will go before all existing international bodies to denounce "this serious international crime" and will defend "with absolute determination its sovereignty, its natural resources, and its national dignity."

Venezuela – the statement concludes – "will not allow any foreign power to attempt to strip the Venezuelan people of what is theirs by historical and constitutional right."