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President Donald Trump said the United States will keep both the crude oil and tankers seized near Venezuela, signaling a sharp escalation in Washington’s economic and maritime pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The move comes as the U.S. expands enforcement of sanctions targeting Venezuela’s oil exports, a critical source of revenue for Caracas.

Washington Tightens the Noose on Venezuelan Oil

Speaking to reporters in Palm Beach, Florida, President Trump confirmed that the U.S. has taken control of oil cargoes and vessels intercepted near Venezuelan waters. He said the administration is weighing multiple options for the seized crude, including selling it on the open market or diverting it into the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

According to Trump, the vessels themselves will also remain under U.S. control. His remarks followed last week’s directive ordering a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, marking one of the most aggressive steps yet in the administration’s sanctions enforcement strategy.

Multiple Tankers Targeted

U.S. authorities have already seized one large oil tanker and intercepted a second vessel in recent days. A third tanker is currently being pursued, Trump confirmed, saying it originated from Venezuela and was operating in violation of U.S. sanctions.

Energy data firm Kpler estimates that the first seized tanker was carrying more than 1 million barrels of crude oil. At current global oil prices, that cargo alone could be worth tens of millions of dollars, underscoring the financial impact of the seizures on Venezuela’s already strained economy.

Strategic Use of Seized Crude

Trump said the administration has not finalized how the oil will be used, but suggested that adding it to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve remains an option. The reserve, which holds hundreds of millions of barrels, is designed to buffer the U.S. economy against supply shocks, and additional barrels could provide flexibility amid global energy market volatility.

The possibility of selling the oil has also been raised, which would effectively redirect sanctioned Venezuelan exports into U.S. controlled channels.

Pressure on Maduro Intensifies

When asked whether the ultimate objective is regime change, Trump said it would be “smart” for President Maduro to step aside. The comments reflect the administration’s broader strategy of using economic isolation and military pressure to force political change in Caracas.

Venezuela, a founding member of OPEC, holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves. Despite years of sanctions and infrastructure decay, the country is still exporting an estimated 749,000 barrels per day this year. More than half of those exports are reportedly going to China, making enforcement actions at sea a critical choke point for Venezuela’s oil revenues.

Rising Military Presence in the Caribbean

The oil seizures come amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean. The Trump administration has already authorized strikes on vessels it says were involved in drug trafficking operations, a campaign that has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers over its legal basis.

Trump warned that similar operations could soon be expanded onto land, framing the actions as part of a broader effort to curb drug flows into the United States. His comments suggest that maritime enforcement could evolve into a wider security campaign affecting both regional stability and global energy markets.

Economic and Market Implications

The aggressive enforcement of oil sanctions adds another layer of uncertainty to global crude supply, particularly at a time when geopolitical risks are already influencing energy prices. For Venezuela, the seizures further limit its ability to monetize oil exports, deepening fiscal stress and reducing hard currency inflows.

For global markets, the developments highlight how sanctions, naval enforcement, and energy policy are increasingly intertwined. Investors and policymakers alike are watching closely to see whether the U.S. expands these actions further, potentially reshaping trade flows in the Western Hemisphere and beyond.