Venezuela denounces hijacking of private vessel carrying national oil

The Venezuelan government has issued a formal diplomatic condemnation accusing United States military personnel of committing an act of maritime robbery in international waters. Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, in an official statement, characterized the incident as a serious violation of multiple international treaties and conventions.

According to the Venezuelan administration, this operation represents a blatant breach of Article 3 of the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, effectively constituting an act of piracy under international law. The statement further alleges that the incident violates fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, specifically Article 2, which governs peaceful relations between sovereign states.

The Venezuelan government contends that additional violations include transgressions against Article 2 of the Geneva Convention on the High Seas and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States. Rodríguez condemned what she described as a colonialist model that the United States government allegedly seeks to impose through such practices, asserting that this approach would be defeated by the resilience of the Venezuelan people.

Despite these allegations, Venezuela reaffirmed its commitment to continued economic growth through its fourteen economic engines and the independent development of its hydrocarbon industry. The Bolivarian Republic has declared that these acts will not remain without consequence, pledging to pursue all appropriate diplomatic and legal channels. This includes formal complaints to the United Nations Security Council, various multilateral organizations, and governments worldwide.