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By Mandy Taheri and Jason Lemon
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded that the Trump administration provide its reasoning and justification for its seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker this week, as tensions have soared between the U.S. and the South American nation in recent months.
"I really hope that the United States, although they consider themselves entitled to conduct such operations, will somehow explain, out of respect for other members of the world community, what facts led them to take such actions," Lavrov said, Russia's Tass news agency reported on Thursday.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that the United States seized the tanker off the coast of Venezuela, calling it “the largest one ever seized” and signaling a sharp escalation in tensions with President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
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Trump has ordered a large-scale U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean and South American waters, including the deployment of an aircraft carrier, fighter jets and tens of thousands of troops, as part of what his administration has framed as expanded counter-narcotics and sanctions enforcement.
Caracas has called the U.S. seizure an "act of international piracy," arguing that the move was part of a long-running strategy to take control of its natural resources.
Russia and Venezuela are major international oil producers.
What To Know
Over the past few months, the Pentagon has conducted more than 20 maritime strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in more than 80 deaths. The seizures and strikes have raised concerns about potential international violations, and many have asked the U.S. to provide evidence and justifications for their moves.
"There is too little information here because I do not know how the United States views the Venezuelan situation, except that President [Donald] Trump has spoken publicly demanding a regime change or voluntary resignation of [Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro], but Chevron is operating in Venezuela, buying Venezuelan oil. What illegal volumes of this type of fuel were on this tanker—we need to get to the bottom of that somehow," Lavrov said.
Oil prices jumped on news of the operation, which market analysts said could intensify already-strained relations between Washington and Caracas. The United States described the move as a “judicial enforcement action on a stateless vessel” last docked in Venezuela, according to a senior Trump administration official who spoke to Bloomberg.
Maduro has repeatedly accused Washington of attempting to overthrow him and seize control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, among the world’s largest. With a damaged oil industry that once produced more than 2 million barrels a day at its peak, it now produces roughly 1 million barrels a day.
Russia's push for additional information comes as other major oil producing countries like Iran have called out the U.S. move.
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What People Are Saying
Attorney General Pam Bondi, in an X post sharing a video of the seizure on Wednesday: "Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations. This seizure, completed off the coast of Venezuela, was conducted safely and securely—and our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues."
Senator Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, on X on Wednesday: "So they can seize an oil tanker, but not a drug boat?"
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, in a Wednesday statement: "Stop the illegal and brutal intervention of the United States in Venezuela and Latin America. Enough of these endless wars, dammit. Enough of these imperial massacres. This homeland belongs to the noble, sovereign, and valiant people of Venezuela."
Gregory Brew, a senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, on X on Wednesday: "US has seized SKIPPER, a Guyana flagged VLCC en route from Venezuela to Cuba. The ship was sanctioned in 2022 for connections to Iran and Hezbollah. If US is willing to seize one tanker, raises question of whether other tankers will follow."
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, on X on Thursday: "We condemn the vile act of piracy and the seizure by that country's military forces of a vessel carrying Venezuelan oil, which contravenes the rules of free trade and freedom of navigation, in open violation of International Law."
What Happens Next
When asked what Trump planned to do with the ship’s oil, he said, “Well, we keep it, I guess.”
International calls for answers are expected to intensify.
Update 12/11/25, 11 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.
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