The United States has imposed new sanctions against six ships suspected of transporting oil from Venezuela, a day after the seizure of the tanker Skipper, accused of illicit transport.

The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that the confiscated ship will be taken to an American port, while Caracas has denounced the action as "international piracy." This escalation of American pressure on Nicolas Maduro's regime comes in the context of drug trafficking allegations and the intensification of the U.S. military presence in the region.

The Trump administration has also sanctioned Maduro's relatives, accusing them of supporting his dictatorial control. Maduro has promised that Venezuela will not become a colony for oil, while American officials emphasize their commitment to combating narco-terrorism and confiscating illegal resources.