U.S. forces have boarded and taken control of a seventh oil tanker connected with Venezuela. It's part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to take control of the South American country's oil.

The U.S. has seized seven Venezuelan-linked oil tankers since Dec. 10​, 2025.

By Ricardo Arduengo and Arathy Somasekhar PONCE, Puerto Rico/HOUSTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Two oil tankers seized this month by the U.S. in its campaign against Venezuela were near Puerto Rico on Wednesday,

Venezuela, accused by the United States of being part of an oil shipping network that supported groups like Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. But as the number of U.S.-seized oil tankers grows,

U.S. military forces boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker connected with Venezuela on Tuesday as the Trump administration continues its efforts to take control of the oil in the South American country.

The Coast Guard boarded and seized the Russian-flagged tanker, originally named Veronica, in a pre-dawn operation in the Caribbean Sea.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted a brief video that appeared to show part of the ship's capture. The black-and-white footage showed helicopters hovering over the deck of a merchant vessel while armed troops dropped down on the deck by rope.

The seizure comes as President Trump is set to meet​ with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado Thursday at the White House.

The United States military announced that it has seized a seventh Venezuela-linked oil tanker, as the US tightens its control over the production and sale of the country’s considerable oil resources.rnrnUS Southern Command (SOUTHCOM),