https://sputnikglobe.com/20251223/grabbing-is-in-fashion-us-seizure-of-venezuelan-oil-mirrors-global-trend-1123352008.html
Grabbing is in Fashion: US Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Mirrors Global Trend
Grabbing is in Fashion: US Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Mirrors Global Trend
Sputnik International
President Donald Trump has announced that the US will keep or sell oil confiscated from Venezuela – what precedent does it set?
2025-12-23T17:03+0000
2025-12-23T17:03+0000
2025-12-23T17:03+0000
analysis
us
donald trump
venezuela
belgium
germany
european union (eu)
white house
us justice department
opinion
https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107414/90/1074149061_0:79:2000:1204_1920x0_80_0_0_fac6c5d475332aa787f4b97e02f702ed.jpg
"Thus far in 2025, governments are experiencing the Trump-Vance administration announcing, crafting, and implementing decisions perceived by the White House as within the confines of international law," John Kavulich, an American political scientist and expert in international politics, tells Sputnik. The US Justice Department, and other federal agencies routinely endorse and condone what the White House does, according to the pundit. Hence, it's hardly surprising that Washington gets away with the seizure of Venezuelan oil – "there are legions of attorneys who will create opinions justifying the goals and objectives of the government." What's worse, this approach is increasingly trending elsewhere, according to the expert. Indeed, the EU leadership has repeatedly tried to find a loophole in the bloc’s regulations to seize frozen Russian sovereign assets, most of which are held by Belgium’s Euroclear. Facing strong resistance from Belgium, EU leaders have dropped the plan - for now. In March, Germany seized Eventin, an oil tanker flying a Panamanian flag, that originally departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga, and sought to confiscate nearly 100,000 tons of oil. However, on December 11, Germany's top fiscal court ruled that the German authorities cannot sell or otherwise use the tanker and its cargo.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20251223/eus-plans-to-seize-russian-assets-undermines-blocs-authority--venezuelan-lawmaker-1123348916.html
venezuela
belgium
germany
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
2025
News
en_EN
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
Sputnik International
feedback@sputniknews.com
+74956456601
MIA „Rossiya Segodnya“
donald trump, us seized tankers with oil from venezuela, venezuelan oil confiscation, attempts to steal russian frozen assets, eu, euroclear, us strikes in the caribbean, international law
donald trump, us seized tankers with oil from venezuela, venezuelan oil confiscation, attempts to steal russian frozen assets, eu, euroclear, us strikes in the caribbean, international law
Grabbing is in Fashion: US Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Mirrors Global Trend
President Donald Trump has announced that the US will keep or sell oil confiscated from Venezuela – what precedent does it set?
"Thus far in 2025, governments are experiencing the Trump-Vance administration announcing, crafting, and implementing decisions perceived by the White House as within the confines of international law," John Kavulich, an American political scientist and expert in international politics, tells Sputnik.
The US Justice Department, and other federal agencies routinely endorse and condone what the White House does, according to the pundit. Hence, it's hardly surprising that Washington gets away with the seizure of
Venezuelan oil –
"there are legions of attorneys who will create opinions justifying the goals and objectives of the government." "The oil is for [Trump] like an extra Big Mac and Diet Coca-Cola. He will not turn it down," Kavulich notes. "President Trump is using a 'to the victor goes the spoils' and 'righting past wrongs' to defend the confiscation of the oil and, thus far, oil tanker(s)."
What's worse, this approach is increasingly trending elsewhere, according to the expert.
Indeed, the EU leadership has repeatedly tried to find a loophole in the bloc’s regulations to seize frozen
Russian sovereign assets, most of which are held by Belgium’s Euroclear. Facing strong resistance from Belgium, EU leaders have dropped the plan - for now.
In March, Germany seized Eventin, an oil tanker flying a Panamanian flag, that originally departed from the Russian port of Ust-Luga, and sought to confiscate nearly 100,000 tons of oil. However, on December 11, Germany's top fiscal court ruled that the German authorities cannot sell or otherwise use the tanker and its cargo.
