US Seizure of 2 Venezuelan Oil Tankers Sparks 'Extortion' Accusations at UN

Piracy or policy? The seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers by the United States has triggered a firestorm at the UN Security Council and escalated a tense standoff in the Caribbean. Venezuela has accused Washington of 'extortion,' transforming the international body into a battleground for a deepening geopolitical conflict involving Russia and China.

A Diplomatic Firestorm at the UN

During an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Venezuela’s envoy, Samuel Moncada, claimed his country was being subjected to the 'greatest extortion' in its history. He described the seizure of the tankers off the Venezuelan coast earlier this month as 'worse than piracy.' Moncada stated, 'we are in the presence of a power that acts outside of international law,' accusing the U.S. of 'pillaging, looting and recolonisation.'

In response, the U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz, countered that the U.S. doesn't recognize Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela. 'Maduro's ability to sell Venezuela's oil enables his fraudulent claims to power and his narco-terrorist activities,' Waltz said, justifying the American actions.

A Naval Blockade in the Caribbean

The confrontation follows an order by President Trump on December 16 to establish a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. The U.S. has declared it will keep or sell the crude oil and the vessels it has seized, and is reportedly pursuing a third tanker.

To enforce this, the U.S. has deployed 15,000 troops and a fleet including aircraft carriers and guided-missile destroyers to the region—its largest deployment there since the 1989 invasion of Panama. While the stated goal is to stop the flow of fentanyl and cocaine to the U.S., some experts say the strikes could violate laws governing armed conflict.

Russia and China Condemn US "Bullying"

Russia and China sided with Venezuela, accusing the U.S. of bullying and aggression. Russia's UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said the U.S. was 'illegally destroying' civilian vessels and warned that its actions were 'a template for future acts of force against Latin American states.' China's envoy, Sun Lei, called on the U.S. to 'immediately halt relevant actions and avoid further escalation.'