The Trump administration is preparing to seize up to 18 sanctioned oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude off Venezuela's coast to escalate pressure on President Nicolás Maduro, with President Trump still considering possible land strikes, according to an Axios report shared by FaytuksNetwork on X during the 1:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. UTC window on December 16, 2025. Axios detailed that officials confirmed the targeting of these vessels as part of a new phase in the administration's campaign against Maduro, building on earlier reports of similar actions during the morning hours. FaytuksNetwork posted the article link at approximately 2:30 p.m. UTC. This development follows closed-door Senate and House briefings this morning with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on U.S. military strikes against Caribbean drug boats, as reported by C-SPAN. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles stated earlier today in a Vanity Fair interview that congressional approval is not needed for strikes on drug boats but would be required for attacks on Venezuela's mainland.
