Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused the United States of committing 'criminal naval piracy' after Washington seized a sanctioned tanker carrying 1.9 million barrels of Venezuelan crude.⁣ ⁣ The US intercepted the vessel near Grenada, in what officials say is the first confiscation of a Venezuelan oil cargo since sanctions were imposed in 2019. Maduro called the move a 'military assault' and claimed the crew had been detained and the ship taken.⁣ ⁣ He said Venezuela would pursue legal and diplomatic action and introduce new measures to protect its oil shipments.⁣ ⁣ The seizure comes as the US expands military operations in the Caribbean, following several recent strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels.⁣ ⁣ #venezuela #oiltanker #maduro #trump #piratesofthecaribbean