Donald Trump's administration escalated pressure on Venezuela by seizing the oil tanker "Skipper" off its coast and implementing new sanctions targeting individuals linked to illicit oil shipments, which Nicolás Maduro condemned as international piracy.White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the operation as part of counterdrug efforts, accusing Maduro's regime of drug trafficking and aiming to cut off vital oil revenue, including from shipments by Franqui Flores, Carlos Flores, and Efraín Campo.Vladimir Putin reaffirmed
Russia's support for Maduro, stressing defense of
Venezuela's sovereignty during a phone call on the sidelines of the
BRICS summit, an exchange the
White House downplayed, asserting Trump was not concerned.