Trump expands Venezuela sanctions as Maduro decries new ‘era of piracy’
President Donald Trump has intensified sanctions against Venezuela, targeting Nicolás Maduro’s family members, associates, and oil-shipping entities amid accusations of drug trafficking and narcoterrorism.
The U.S. seized an oil tanker named Skipper off Venezuela’s coast on December 10, 2025, following a military operation involving Coast Guard and Marines. New sanctions hit three of Maduro’s nephews, a close businessman ally, and six shipping companies like My Marine Limited, blocking their international dealings. These moves follow Trump’s designation of Maduro’s network, including the “Cartel de los Soles,” as a terrorist organization.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the tanker seizure as “international piracy” and a “new era of criminal naval piracy in the Caribbean,” accusing the U.S. of stealing resources and kidnapping the crew. He vowed Venezuela would not become an “oil colony,” framing the actions as a regime-change plot targeting the country’s vast oil reserves.
These steps escalate Trump’s pressure campaign, potentially disrupting Venezuela’s oil-dependent economy and “shadow fleet” used for sanctioned trade. Oil prices fluctuated in response, and critics question the legality of U.S. strikes under international law, with mixed American public approval.
