Caracas, December 11 (EFECOM). – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said Thursday that the United States wants to “steal” Venezuelan oil after the Donald Trump administration intercepted and seized a ship loaded with crude oil near the South American country’s waters.
“That’s why I say, yesterday their mask fell off (…) it’s the oil they want to steal and Venezuela will defend its sovereignty over its natural resources and we will triumph again, the victory is ours today, tomorrow and forever,” the president said at an event in a community in Caracas, broadcast by state broadcaster Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
In addition, he denounced that the crew of the oil tanker intercepted and seized by the United States this Wednesday had “disappeared”, which is why he announced that this incident would be reported to international bodies in order to “secure” all their ships and ensure free trade.
“Venezuela rejects this criminal piracy against the entire Caribbean in all parts and I have already given sufficient instructions so that the necessary legal and diplomatic steps and measures are taken in all cases, since Venezuela will secure all ships to ensure the free trade of its oil in the world,” he added.
The president stated that the ship was carrying 1,900,000 barrels of oil that had been paid for before departure from Venezuela, without specifying by whom.
The false-flag tanker, named Skipper, was seized by order of a U.S. judge because of its past ties to Iranian oil smuggling and was sanctioned by Washington, although this time it was carrying Venezuelan crude, the New York Times reported.
This Wednesday, the White House reported that the tanker was being directed to a US port so that the crude oil could be confiscated.
“The ship will be visiting a U.S. port and the United States intends to seize the oil. However, there is a legal process for seizing that oil and that legal process will be followed,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said at a news conference.
According to Leavitt, the tanker is currently “going through a seizure process” and the United States has an investigative team on board interviewing the crew.
This episode increases tensions between the two countries after months of US military action in the Caribbean under the argument of combating drug trafficking, for which Washington blames Maduro, which he denies.
Nevertheless, Maduro pointed out this Thursday that the fate of the United States and Venezuela must be “respect, friendship and cooperation,” which is why he called on American citizens to “tie the hands of the extremist, supremacist and warmongering sectors.” EFECOM
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