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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Edward Helmore

Cuba denounces US seizure of oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast as ‘piracy’

A satellite image of the Skipper oil tanker, north of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, on 12 December 2025.
A satellite image of the Skipper oil tanker, north of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, on 12 December 2025. Photograph: Satellite image ©2025 Vantor/Reuters

Cuban officials have denounced the US seizure of the Skipper oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast on Wednesday, calling it an “act of piracy and maritime terrorism” as well as a “serious violation of international law” that hurts the Caribbean island nation and its people.

“This action is part of the US escalation aimed at hampering Venezuela’s legitimate right to freely use and trade its natural resources with other nations, including the supplies of hydrocarbons to Cuba,” the Cuban foreign ministry statement said.

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