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