Trump Defends Seizure of Oil Tanker Off Venezuela, Comments on Ukraine and Gaza
U.S. President Donald Trump has said the seizure of an oil tanker by American forces near the coast of Venezuela was carried out “based on a valid reason,” adding that Washington will soon release footage of the operation. His remarks followed reports from international media outlets, including Bloomberg, that U.S. forces had intercepted an oil tanker in Venezuelan coastal waters.
Trump did not provide further details, but claimed the action aligned with U.S. national interests. However, international analysts warn that such unilateral actions by the U.S. in other nations’ waters could escalate tensions concerning energy resources.
In another part of his statement, Trump addressed the war in Ukraine, asserting that Washington has dedicated significant time and effort to the conflict due to its high casualty toll. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the U.S. is not inclined to waste time on repetitive meetings about ending the war.
According to Trump, some European nations have requested a meeting between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the upcoming holidays. He reiterated his claim that the war in Ukraine is resolvable and may come to an end soon.
Trump also touched on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, announcing that a “Gaza Peace Council” will be launched next year. He did not elaborate on the plan, but stressed that the creation of such a body could support regional peace efforts.
