The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela formally denounced before the United Nations Security Council a «serious act of use of force, kidnapping, and piracy» committed by the United States against a Venezuelan oil tanker.
The denounce was submitted through a letter delivered by Ambassador Samuel Moncada, Venezuela’s permanent representative to the UN, to the president of the Security Council of the aforementioned international body, Samuel Žbogar. The document was instructed by President Nicolás Maduro Moros and Chancellor Yván Gil, who made the public announcement through his official channels.
The incident occurred on December 10, 2025, in international waters of the Caribbean. A vessel engaged in the trade of Venezuelan oil was intercepted, its cargo seized, and its crew kidnapped.
Venezuela qualifies this fact as a «theft of oil cargo» carried out by the U.S. government, an action that violates fundamental principles of international law. The note emphasizes that the act falls within the definition of maritime piracy under Article 101 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as it constitutes an illegal act of violence, detention, and depredation against a vessel and its cargo.
One of the most serious aspects highlighted in the denounce is that, after the attack, several crew members remain missing. Venezuela states that no information has been received regarding their whereabouts or condition, which exacerbates the gravity of the events.
The letter reaffirms Venezuela’s determination to defend its sovereign right to legitimately trade its natural resources. It demands that no legal operation be subject to acts of force, kidnapping, or piracy, regardless of its origin, in a clear reference to the United States’ stance on sanctions against Venezuelan oil. With this diplomatic action, Venezuela is elevating the case to the highest international security body, demanding a response and an investigation into this aggression against the nation.