Maduro Threatens North American Empire Amid U.S. Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tanker
At a rally in Caracas, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro brandished Simón Bolívar's sword, sang, danced, and warned his supporters to be prepared to "smash the teeth" of the North American empire if necessary. This warning followed the U.S. announcement of the seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast, accused of transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
Venezuela's Foreign Ministry condemned the tanker seizure, describing it as piracy and theft. The ministry accused Washington of a long-running plan to plunder the country's natural resources and referenced the loss of Citgo, a U.S.-based subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company.
Caracas vowed to defend its sovereignty, take the complaint to international bodies, and prevent foreign powers from seizing Venezuelan oil assets.
Meanwhile, U.S. maritime strikes targeting vessels linked to drug trafficking have intensified in the region, with reports of fatalities and increased security in coastal areas.
President Donald Trump stated that he has not ruled out sending troops to Venezuela and left open the possibility of talks with Maduro, continuing the crackdown on drug trafficking networks.
