In brief
In a recent session of the UN Security Council, Venezuela condemned the United States for allegedly extorting the nation through the seizure of two oil tankers. The discussions highlighted ongoing tensions between the two countries, with Venezuela's UN ambassador labeling the U.S. actions as 'worse than piracy.' The situation has escalated with the U.S. escalating military presence in the region amid claims of combating drug trafficking.
Venezuela has accused the United States of the 'greatest extortion' at an emergency session of the UN Security Council in New York.
Washington's seizure of two Venezuelan oil tankers was 'worse than piracy,' the Venezuelan ambassador to the UN said.
The emergency meeting of the Security Council was called to discuss the seizure of the tankers, which took place off the coast of Venezuela earlier this month.
The US has also said it was pursuing a third Venezuelan oil tanker.
President Trump has accused Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro of leading a drugs cartel and said gangs had operated with impunity for too long.
On 16 December, Trump ordered a naval blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
The US president has said the US will keep or sell the crude oil it has taken, as well as the vessels themselves.
The US has been building up its military presence in the Pacific and Caribbean Seas in recent months, sending 15,000 troops and a range of aircraft carriers and warships to the area.
This deployment is reportedly the largest since the US invasion of Panama in 1989, targeting what it describes as drug smuggling routes.
Venezuelan envoy Samuel Moncada characterized the US actions as 'pillaging, looting and recolonisation of Venezuela.'
In response, US Ambassador Michael Waltz expressed that the US does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, linking him to illicit activities.
Other nations, including Russia and China, condemned the US's actions, warning against potential aggressive practices against other Latin American countries.
