Up to 20 Years in Prison: Venezuela's New Law Targets U.S. Oil Tanker Seizures

Venezuela is drawing a legal line in the sand against U.S. pressure. The country's National Assembly on Tuesday approved a bill criminalizing the seizure of oil tankers and other acts that hinder maritime commerce, imposing penalties of up to 20 years in prison. The move is a direct response to the Donald Trump administration's intensifying pressure campaign on President Nicolás Maduro.

A Swift Legislative Counter-punch

The bill was introduced, debated, and approved in a remarkably short span of just two days by the ruling-party-controlled assembly, according to The Associated Press. While the final text wasn't published, the measure as read on the floor calls for sanctions against anyone who promotes, finances, or participates in “acts of piracy, blockades or other international illegal acts.” The bill now awaits President Maduro's signature to become law.

This legislation was triggered by recent actions from U.S. forces, which seized two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters this month. The U.S. Coast Guard seized the Panama-flagged 'Centuries' on Saturday, following the seizure of another tanker, the 'Skipper', on Dec. 10. The Trump administration argues these vessels are part of a fleet used by Venezuela to evade U.S. economic sanctions.

Diverging Views: 'Sovereignty' vs. 'Pressure'

The geopolitical standoff has drawn mixed reactions. President Trump has maintained that Maduro's days in power are numbered and has floated the idea of a "blockade" against Venezuela. Conversely, within Venezuela, some opposition figures, including Nobel Peace laureate María Corina Machado, have expressed support for U.S. policy, including the tanker seizures. The new law also aims to provide "incentives and mechanisms for economic... protections" for entities, both foreign and domestic, that continue to do business with the country despite the U.S. sanctions.