A Venezuelan flag in La Guaira, Vargas State, Venezuela, on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025.
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U.S. forces have seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News.
Oil prices rose slightly on the reported seizure. U.S. crude oil was up 28 cents, or 0.48%, at $58.53 per barrel. Global benchmark Brent rose 31 cents, or 0.5%, to $62.25 a barrel.
President Donald Trump has escalated pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in recent weeks. Trump said Maduro’s “days are numbered” in an interview with Politico published Tuesday. The president would not rule out a ground invasion of the South American nation.
The White House has undertaken a large military buildup in the Caribbean and launched deadly strikes against boats that it claims were trafficking drugs to the U.S.
Venezuela is a founding member of OPEC and has the largest proven oil reserves in the world. It is exporting about 749,000 barrels per day this year with at least half that oil going to China, according to data from energy consulting firm Kpler.
Venezuela exports about 132,000 bpd to the U.S., according to Kpler.
“Shippers will likely be much more cautious and hesitant about loading Venezuelan crude going forward,” said Matt Smith, an oil analyst at Kpler.