Overview
- At the UN Security Council, Ambassador Mike Waltz pledged to enforce sanctions "to the maximum extent," defending a blockade of sanctioned vessels and pointing to the Cartel de los Soles terror designation.
- U.S. forces have seized two crude-laden tankers this month — the Skipper and the Centuries — and the Coast Guard is pursuing a third vessel near Venezuela’s coast.
- Venezuela, Russia, and China denounced the seizures and interdictions as unlawful or "piracy," with Beijing urging an immediate halt and warning of sovereignty violations.
- Venezuela’s National Assembly approved penalties of up to 20 years in prison for aiding blockades or piracy, as Washington expanded deployments with special operations aircraft and an estimated 15,000 personnel in the region.
- President Trump said the U.S. will keep or sell seized oil and tankers, while U.S. strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats since September have killed more than 100 people.