Venezuela demands US return seized oil, tanker crew

Venezuela has formally called on the United States to release the crew of a seized tanker, return stolen oil, and cease interference in the country’s lawful trade.

Following the seizure of a Venezuelan oil shipment in international waters, a formal letter was submitted to the UN Security Council accusing the US of "maritime piracy," Caliber.Az reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

The government of President Nicolas Maduro claims that US military units "forcibly boarded a private vessel on the high seas, subdued and kidnapped its crew, and illegally seized a shipment of Venezuelan oil." Caracas stated that the oil was part of a "regular commercial operation that was legitimate and fully compliant with international law."

In the letter addressed to Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, the president of the Security Council, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil emphasised that the incident was "not an isolated event," but part of a "sustained policy of coercion and aggression" by the US, enforced through "unilateral, illegal, and illegitimate coercive measures."

The letter cites Article 101 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which defines piracy, arguing the US action was a "flagrant violation" of the legal regime protecting freedom of navigation and lawful international trade.

Venezuela also urged the Security Council to publicly condemn the act, take measures to preserve the safety of navigation, and prevent "piracy from becoming established as an instrument of political coercion."

Additionally, it requested written confirmation from the Security Council that no resolution exists authorising such actions against Venezuela or its oil trade.

The seizure, carried out on December 10 using the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, marks the latest escalation in tensions between the two countries amid a major US pressure campaign against Venezuela, which includes extensive military deployments in the Caribbean.

The US has justified the seizure, stating that vessels are used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran in an "illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organisations."

By Jeyhun Aghazada