By: Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly news |
Regional Allies Back Venezuela as U.S. Oil Tanker Seizure Sparks Tensions; Calls Grow for Anti-Corruption Reform
Venezuela’s regional allies have rallied behind President Nicolás Maduro, condemning the United States’ recent seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker during a virtual summit of the ALBA bloc held on Sunday.
The seizure of the tanker Skipper off Venezuela’s coast last Wednesday marked the first capture of Venezuelan oil cargo by U.S. authorities since sanctions were imposed in 2019. The move has intensified regional unease, particularly amid a growing U.S. military presence in the southern Caribbean.
Leaders from Caribbean and Latin American nations participating in the summit voiced strong opposition to the action, warning of far-reaching consequences for regional stability. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the situation as unprecedented, stating that Latin America and the Caribbean now face threats unseen in decades. Nicaragua’s Co-President Daniel Ortega went further, labeling the seizure as outright theft.
Regional analysts have warned that the incident could disrupt Venezuelan oil exports and deepen energy shortages in allied states such as Cuba, which is already struggling to maintain electricity supply.
The Trump administration does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader and has accused his government of corruption and criminal activity. The situation has further escalated following recent U.S. strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off the Venezuelan coast and in the eastern Pacific. President Maduro has accused Washington of actively seeking his removal from power.
Meanwhile, calls for stronger institutional responses to corruption emerged closer to home. Director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), David West, has proposed the creation of a National Anti-Corruption Commission to improve coordination among oversight bodies.
Speaking during an Integrity Commission Anti-Corruption Day seminar, West explained that while agencies like the PCA serve as civilian oversight bodies for police misconduct, they are legally restricted from sharing information across institutions. He argued that an overarching commission would allow for more efficient information-sharing, quicker responses, and a unified national approach to tackling corruption.
In other international news, tragedy struck northern Colombia on Sunday when a bus carrying schoolchildren plunged off a cliff in a rural area, killing 17 people and injuring at least 20 others. Local authorities reported that the bus was returning from the Caribbean town of Chulú to Medellín following a school trip. The students had been celebrating their graduation at the beach.
Describing the incident as devastating, the regional governor expressed condolences to the families, noting that the tragedy had deeply affected the community during the holiday season.
