US Seizes oil tanker off coast of Venezuela - WTF???

[VitaMan]

Who has been following this well enough to explain why the big escalation has happened ?

Dictators, politicians, drug cartels, China, Russia and oil all involved.

Does Trump also have some personal quarrels ?

[Yssup Rider]

It’s a grift for oil.

Trump just pardoned a crooked, drug running pol from Honduras. For no goddamned reason.

Why else would he be ready to attack mainland Venezuela if it didn’t line his pockets?

War on drugs? GTFOH!

He’s setting up yet another showdown in Congress. At the rate the GOP behind him is crumbling, he’d better hurry up and make his move.

[Yssup Rider]

This is breaking news.

Trump bragged about the size of the tanker we seized (the biggest ever) but would only say it was for a good reason.

What the actual fuck is he doing?Wonder if Congress approved the act of agression on the high seas?

Add piracy to the other crimes he's committing in order to oust Maduro.


https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/10/us-v...ker-seize.html

[69in2it69]

That oil was likely headed to China...what's TACO going to do if they send a battle group to the region?

[Yssup Rider]

Some WWI bullshit

[txdot-guy]

Moved to more appropriate thread.

[Precious_b]

You may have called it YR.
When questioned about seizing an oil tanker on the high seas, he was asked what happens with the oil.

donny stated, we probably keep it.

[Precious_b]

If there is already an agreement to stop oil going to the destination on the ships manifest, I have no problem with it.

But let's see what happens.

[txdot-guy]

According to this article China buys 85% of Venezuela’s oil. Which comes to about 613,000 barrels per day.

https://www.importglobals.com/blog/v...025-and-beyond

If the point of this war against Venezuela has less to do with drugs and more about regime change how will the ousting of President Maduro affect the global oil market? Won’t this change just increase China’s oil dependence on Russia which happens to be their biggest supplier even today.

If we get into the business of regime change (again) what exactly will be the long term consequences?

[CG2014]

Those Venezuelan tankers are carrying medium range ballistic missiles, AK-103 Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition produced at 2 Russian factories located in Venezuela, and they are headed for Cuba!

[Yssup Rider]

Originally Posted by CG2014

Those Venezuelan tankers are carrying medium range ballistic missiles, AK-103 Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition produced at 2 Russian factories located in Venezuela, and they are headed for Cuba!

Wow! I'd sure like to see some verifiable details on that.

If that's the case, then why isnt Trump saying so? He is so good at keeping his mouth shut after all...

Let's just call that claim BS until proven otherwise.

[pxmcc]

^+1 sir..

i agree WTF, but Trump's case here is stronger than when he is blowing up boats in international waters, including second strikes on helpless survivors. (if we're at war as Trump insists, that second strike constitutes a war crime. if we're not at war, then why the boat strikes instead of Coast Guard boardings as usual?)

here's how the argument goes.
Venezuela's oil exports are under various sanctions, as is Iran. the boat may be operating in a legal grey zone. It falsified its locations, is flying a flag without that governmen't's approval, has been to shady ports such as Iranian, and it's oil may be intended to generate profits for sanctioned regimes and to support outlawed groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah. Such problematic backstories could make the seizure legal-ish, which gives Trump the inch he needs to take a mile.

Trump has broken too many laws to count, and should already be in prison for life. But this seizure isn't a clear and absolute case in point.

i'm not defending Trump's actions, to be sure. I think he is probably on the far side of the law.

would be funny to see China conduct a FON Op right in front of the Ford and assign a carrier strike group to escort future oil shipments from Venezuela to China. never happen, but even the thought itself is funny imo.

short related diversion: China may consider taking Taiwan, like, right about now. at least they won't have to contend with the Ford.

(is Taiwan a bit nervous..)

[yeahsurewhatev]

Originally Posted by pxmcc

^+1 sir..

i agree WTF, but Trump's case here is stronger than when he is blowing up boats in international waters, including second strikes on helpless survivors. (if we're at war as Trump insists, that second strike constitutes a war crime. if we're not at war, then why the boat strikes instead of Coast Guard boardings as usual?)

here's how the argument goes.
Venezuela's oil exports are under various sanctions, as is Iran. the boat may be operating in a legal grey zone. It falsified its locations, is flying a flag without that governmen't's approval, has been to shady ports such as Iranian, and it's oil may be intended to generate profits for sanctioned regimes and to support outlawed groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah. Such problematic backstories could make the seizure legal-ish, which gives Trump the inch he needs to take a mile.

Trump has broken too many laws to count, and should already be in prison for life. But this seizure isn't a clear and absolute case in point.

i'm not defending Trump's actions, to be sure. I think he is probably on the far side of the law.

would be funny to see China conduct a FON Op right in front of the Ford and assign a carrier strike group to escort future oil shipments from Venezuela to China. never happen, but even the thought itself is funny imo.

short related diversion: China may consider taking Taiwan, like, right about now. at least they won't have to contend with the Ford.

(is Taiwan a bit nervous..)

Appreciate your laying out the "justification." I'm equal parts amused and horrified by what you think might be a response.

I take some issue with how much of this operation you ascribe to Trump. When I read, "'We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela – a large tanker, very large, the largest one ever seized actually.'
'It was seized for a very good reason,' the US president added, declining to say who owned the vessel." I couldn't help thinking, this definitely sounds like a guy who just woke up from a nap and has no idea what's going on.

Not that Trump being in charge would be good news, but I think it's worse news if we don't really know who is. He seems to respond to questions about the boat strikes with much the same lack of basic awareness of what's happening.

[slowmover]

This is good news for the Chinese and their 2027 timeline to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027. Less assets in the South China sea.

[Yssup Rider]

When the US imposes sanctions on another country, does that mean that the country is at war with the US?

They keep talking about "sanctioned oil," but does that mean it's ours for the taking, because Trump is stealing it now.

Is this another violation of international law by the Trump administration?