Trump says US to keep oil and ships seized off Venezuelan coast
Dec 24, 2025
Washington DC [US], December 24: President Donald Trump on Monday said oil tankers seized by the United States off the coast of Venezuela would remain in US possession.
Asked by reporters about the oil on board the first tanker taken under control on December 10, Trump said, "We'll keep it." He added that the oil might be used for strategic reserves.
"We're keeping the ships also," Trump said.
The US Coast Guard recently seized two oil tankers in the Caribbean. Since Sunday, it has also been tracking a third ship, which is said to be part of the so-called shadow fleet that Venezuela is using to circumvent sanctions, according to media reports.
Source: Qatar Tribune
