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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Joseph Gedeon in Washington

US lawmakers condemn seizure of Venezuelan oil tanker: ‘Trump is sleepwalking us into a war’

a satellite image of an oil tanker
A satellite image shows the oil tanker Skipper on 18 November 2025. Photograph: Planet Labs PBC

Senior Democratic lawmakers and at least one Republican have condemned Wednesday’s seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker off the nation’s coast, with one saying Donald Trump is “sleepwalking us into a war with Venezuela”.

There is growing, at least somewhat bipartisan unease in Washington over the administration’s escalating military posture in the region. Trump has accused Venezuela of facilitating drug trafficking, and increased the US military presence in the Caribbean to a level not seen in decades. The administration has also conducted a campaign of bombings of alleged drug boats, killing more than 80 people so far.

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