Tensions between Washington and Caracas surged dramatically after the United States seized a second oil tanker near Venezuela, prompting furious accusations of “international piracy” and raising fears that the long-simmering standoff is sliding toward a full-scale crisis. br On December 20, US Coast Guard forces, backed by the US military, boarded and seized an oil tanker in international waters off Venezuela’s coast. The move followed a similar seizure on December 10 and comes just days after President Donald Trump ordered what he called a ‘total and complete blockade’ of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. br br #USSeizesOilTanker #VenezuelaOilTanker #USTankerSeizure #USVenezuelaTensions #OilTankerSeized #VenezuelanTanker #TrumpForeignPolicy #MaritimeSeizure #BreakingNews #GlobalOilCrisis #SanctionsEnforcement #HighSeasDrama #USMilitaryAction #VenezuelaCrisis #EnergyGeopolitics #OilWar #CaribbeanTensions #USNavy #WorldNews #GeopoliticalShockbr br ~HT.318~ED.102~PR.