Venezuela has submitted a formal letter to the UN Security Council, accusing the United States of “maritime piracy” after the seizure of a Venezuelan oil shipment in international waters. President Nicolas Maduro’s government claims that US military forces forcibly boarded a private vessel, kidnapped its crew, and unlawfully seized the oil, which they assert was part of a legitimate commercial operation compliant with international law.
In the correspondence addressed to Slovenian Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, the president of the Security Council, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil emphasized that this incident is indicative of a broader “sustained policy of coercion and aggression” by the US. He argued that the actions taken were a “flagrant violation” of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which protects the freedom of navigation and lawful trade.
Caracas is demanding the immediate release of the detained crew, the return of the confiscated oil, and an end to US interference in its trade. It also urged the Security Council to publicly condemn the US actions and take steps to safeguard navigation against what it terms “political coercion.” The seizure has heightened tensions between the two nations, coinciding with a significant US pressure campaign against Venezuela. The US justifies the seizure by alleging that the vessel was involved in transporting sanctioned oil linked to terrorism.
