The Venezuelan government rejected the seizure of a new vessel transporting oil, it said in a statement on Saturday (December 20), describing it as a "serious act of international piracy," after the United States seized another tanker near the coast of the South American country.

Venezuela "denounces and rejects the theft and hijacking of a new private vessel transporting oil, as well as the forced disappearance of its crew, committed by military personnel of the United States of America in international waters," the statement added.

Caracas said that the actions will be reported to the United Nations Security Council, other multilateral organizations and governments.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

INTERNET (DECEMBER 20, 2025) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - Access all) (MUTE)

1. FIRST PART OF STATEMENT BY THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT REJECTING SEIZURE OF NEW VESSEL TRANSPORTING OIL BY THE UNITED STATES POSTED BY VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER YVAN GIL PINTO ON HIS TELEGRAM

2. FIRST PART OF STATEMENT BY THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT REJECTING SEIZURE OF NEW VESSEL TRANSPORTING OIL BY THE UNITED STATES READING (Spanish):

"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically denounces and rejects the theft and hijacking of a new private vessel carrying Venezuelan oil, as well as the forced disappearance of its crew, committed by United States military personnel in international waters.

This serious act of piracy constitutes a flagrant violation of the crime described in Article 3 of the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, as well as a gross violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations, Article 2 of the Geneva Convention on the High Seas, and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States, among other applicable norms of international law.

The colonialist model that the United States government seeks to impose with these types of practices will fail and will be defeated by the Venezuelan people.

Venezuela will continue to move forward with its economic growth, based on its 14 engines and the development of its hydrocarbon industry in an independent and sovereign manner."

3. SECOND PART OF STATEMENT BY THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT REJECTING SEIZURE OF NEW VESSEL TRANSPORTING OIL BY THE UNITED STATES POSTED BY VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER YVAN GIL PINTO ON HIS TELEGRAM

4. FIRST PART OF STATEMENT BY THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT REJECTING SEIZURE OF NEW VESSEL TRANSPORTING OIL BY THE UNITED STATES READING (Spanish):

"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reaffirms that these acts will not go unpunished and will take all appropriate action, including reporting them to the United Nations Security Council, other multilateral organizations, and the governments of the world. International law will prevail, and those responsible for these serious acts will answer to justice and history for their criminal conduct."