US Seizes Venezuelan Tanker, Sanctions; Maduro Slams 'Naval Piracy'

• US imposed new sanctions on six ships transporting Venezuelan oil and seized the tanker "Skipper" off Venezuela's coast.
• Venezuela condemned the seizure as "naval piracy," accusing the US of "kidnapping the crew" and "stealing the ship."
• The US justified its actions by citing "illicit oil shipping" and a broader strategy to disrupt narcotics pipelines, also sanctioning Maduro's relatives.
• The "Skipper" was previously sanctioned in 2022 for allegedly smuggling oil to Hezbollah and Iran's IRGC-Quds Force.

Why It Matters: Escalating US pressure on Venezuela could lead to regional instability.