Venezuela breaks silence after US seizes 1.8 M barrels of Oil en route to China

The United States said it seized a second oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast on December 20, releasing footage that showed helicopters landing on the vessel during the operation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the tanker had recently docked in Venezuela and was carrying sanctioned oil. Venezuela rejected the seizure, calling it an act of international piracy and vowing to file complaints with the United Nations and other bodies. Media reports identified the ship as the Panama flagged Centuries. The seizure follows a similar operation on December 10 and comes days after President Donald Trump announced a complete naval blockade on Venezuela amid rising regional tensions.