Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called for protests against American maritime activities in ports worldwide, urging oil and gas industry workers to organize a “great global protest” against the United States government.
Maduro also instructed oil workers to protect the rights to free trade in Venezuelan oil and to engage shipowners globally in preparing protest actions.
On December 10, U.S. President Donald Trump announced during a White House speech that American forces had seized a large tanker off Venezuela’s coast. The vessel was under U.S. sanctions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed concern over the seizure, stating that “without any trial, without investigation,” U.S. authorities landed on the deck of the tanker and declared it was transporting prohibited oil for sale.
On December 12, U.S. authorities reported plans to seize additional tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, with some vessels potentially transporting raw materials from other countries subject to Washington’s sanctions, including Iran. A list of potential targets has already been compiled.
