Trump Confirms US Will Retain or Sell Seized Venezuelan Oil

Tue Dec 23 2025 15:19:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a recent press conference, Donald Trump stated that the US will keep or potentially sell the crude oil seized from Venezuela, further escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas.

During a press event in Florida, President Donald Trump declared that the United States will retain or sell the crude oil from tankers seized off the Venezuelan coast. The statement comes amid ongoing pressure from the US on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to resign, with accusations directed at the Maduro government regarding drug trafficking. The US military has increased its presence in the Caribbean and Pacific, implicating its actions as part of a broader strategy to combat narcotics and increase sanctions against Venezuela's oil exports. Maduro has responded, urging Trump to focus on domestic issues instead.

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

The US president's comments came as Washington continues to exert pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to relinquish power.

In remarks to reporters in Florida, Trump stated about the oil, we're going to keep it, and went on to say, 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 has accused Venezuela of utilizing oil revenues to support drug-related crime, while Caracas has labeled the seizures as acts of piracy.

Earlier this month, the US military seized two oil tankers, including one on Saturday, as the Coast Guard pursued a third vessel linked to Venezuela's alleged dark fleet meant to evade US sanctions.

Trump added that the military operation was progressing, and they were expected to capture the vessel soon. In a separate incident, US Southern Command reported a strike on a suspected trafficking ship in international waters, leading to one fatality.

When questioned if the aim of the seizures was to force Maduro from power, Trump responded, Well, I think it probably would... That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it'd be smart for him to do that. But again, we're gonna find out.

The US has intensified its military presence in the Pacific and Caribbean, engaging in strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessels, which have reportedly killed around 100 individuals. However, the military has faced scrutiny from Congress concerning these operations.

Trump reiterated intentions to extend military actions into land operations, stating, If they want to come by land, they're going to end up having a big problem. They're going to get blown to pieces, because we don't want our people poisoned.

Maduro, responding on state television, criticized Trump for focusing on Venezuela rather than addressing his own country's issues. The Venezuelan government has requested an emergency UN Security Council session to discuss what they describe as US aggression.

Since Trump's return to office in January, he has increased the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture and accused him of being one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world. The US has classified Maduro's government as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and enacted a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, further aggravating tensions between the two nations.