Trump's Controversial Move: Keeping or Selling Seized Venezuelan Oil

Tue Dec 23 2025 15:18:32 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

President Trump announced the U.S. will keep or potentially sell crude oil seized from Venezuela, amidst rising tensions with Nicolás Maduro's government. The move raises significant geopolitical and environmental concerns.

In a recent statement, Donald Trump declared that the U.S. intends to retain or sell oil taken from tankers off the coast of Venezuela, stating, \"we're going to keep it.\" This decision comes as the U.S. applies pressure on Venezuela's leader, Nicolás Maduro. The Trump administration continues to challenge Maduro, whom they accuse of funding drug-related crimes with oil revenues. Madness is escalating the situation as Maduro's government decries the seizures as acts of piracy, setting the stage for international scrutiny and potential diplomatic conflict.

Donald Trump has stated that the US will either keep or sell the crude oil contained on tankers seized off the coast of Venezuela, along with the vessels themselves.

The US president's remarks came as Washington intensifies its pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to resign.

Speaking to reporters in Florida, Trump indicated, we're going to keep it. Maybe we will sell it, maybe we will keep it. Maybe we'll use it in the Strategic Reserves. We're keeping the ships also.

The Trump administration claims that Venezuela uses oil revenues to fund drug-related crime, while Caracas has labeled the seizures as piracy.

Recently, the US military seized two oil tankers, including one just this past Saturday. Trump reaffirmed that the US Coast Guard is persistently pursuing a third tanker described as part of a Venezuelan dark fleet aimed at evading US sanctions.

In a follow-up to his claims, Trump mentioned a military strike on a suspected trafficking vessel in the Pacific, where one person was reportedly killed.

As tensions rise, Maduro responded to Trump’s comments by suggesting he should focus on the issues within the US rather than meddling in Venezuela’s affairs.

The US designates Maduro’s regime as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and has recently intensified measures against Venezuela's oil exports, causing outrage among Caracas officials. To discuss what they deem as ongoing US aggression, the UN Security Council plans to hold an emergency session at Venezuela's request.