Cuba Denounces US Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tanker 'Skipper' as 'Act of Piracy'

US Seizes Oil Tanker 'Skipper' Off Venezuelan Coast

On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, United States forces seized the oil tanker known as the 'Skipper' (also identified as the M/T Adisa) off the coast of Venezuela. The vessel was reportedly carrying nearly 2 million barrels of Venezuelan heavy crude oil, with an estimated value between $50 million and $100 million. The tanker's intended destination was the Cuban port of Matanzas. The operation, led by the US Coast Guard and supported by the Navy, involved helicopters, Coast Guard members, Marines, and special operations forces.

US officials justified the seizure by stating the tanker was 'used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran' and was part of an 'illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.' President Donald Trump commented that the tanker was seized for 'a very good reason' and indicated that the US would 'keep the oil.' The action is part of a broader US strategy to exert pressure on the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and is also linked to counter-narcotics efforts in the region.

Cuba Condemns Action as 'Piracy and Maritime Terrorism'

In response, Cuba's Foreign Ministry issued a strong condemnation on December 12-13, 2025, describing the seizure as an 'act of piracy and maritime terrorism' and a 'serious violation of international law,' including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ministry stated that the action 'negatively affects Cuba and intensifies the United States' policy of maximum pressure and economic suffocation.' Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel echoed these sentiments, calling it 'an act of piracy, a violation of International Law, and an escalation of aggression against that sister nation.'

Venezuela also denounced the seizure as 'blatant theft and an act of international piracy.' Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello accused the US of being 'thieves, pirates, murderers' who 'want to steal our oil.'

Economic Implications for Cuba

The seizure of the 'Skipper' poses significant challenges for Cuba's already struggling economy and energy sector. Cuba relies heavily on Venezuelan oil, which accounts for approximately 50% of its oil deficit or about a quarter of its total demand. The interruption of this supply chain is expected to exacerbate existing fuel shortages, which have led to daily, hours-long rolling blackouts across the island.

Experts note that Cuba's energy situation is precarious, with reduced oil supplies from Mexico and unmaterialized large-scale Russian deliveries further limiting alternatives. The US action, coupled with new sanctions imposed by the US Treasury on six companies and six vessels involved in business with Venezuela, signals a potential pattern of increased interceptions of tankers carrying Venezuelan oil.

International Law and Sanctions Context

The US seizure occurs amidst ongoing sanctions against Venezuela's oil industry, which have been in place since 2019. These sanctions aim to pressure the Maduro government. Cuba and Venezuela have historically maintained a close relationship, with Venezuela supplying oil in exchange for Cuban medical expertise, sports instructors, and security personnel. The US has previously sanctioned companies and vessels involved in transporting Venezuelan oil to Cuba. The current incident marks a significant escalation in the US's efforts to disrupt these oil flows.