Díaz-Canel Likens Trump to Caribbean Buccaneers Following Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tanker

Miguel Díaz-Canel launched a fierce critique against U.S. President Donald Trump after a Venezuelan oil tanker was seized in the Caribbean. This move sparked a strong reaction from the Cuban government, as the fuel was intended for Havana.

The Cuban leader described the seizure as an act of "piracy" and accused Washington of acting like the buccaneers who once terrorized the region centuries ago.

"In an unprecedented affront to international norms, akin to the days of Francis Drake and Henry Morgan, Donald Trump has unleashed his pirates on a Venezuelan oil tanker, shamelessly seizing its cargo like a common thief," he stated.

These remarks were made during the closing speech of a Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) plenary session held behind closed doors on Saturday.

During his speech, Díaz-Canel condemned what he perceived as an escalation of Trump's aggression towards Venezuela, a nation Cuba regards as a strategic ally.

The Cuban dictator echoed earlier statements made by his ally Nicolás Maduro, who claimed that the U.S. operation marked "a new era of criminal naval piracy in the Caribbean."

"They committed an absolutely criminal and illegal act by executing a military assault, kidnapping, and theft, like Caribbean pirates, on a merchant, commercial, civilian, private, peaceful ship," he asserted.

According to the Venezuelan leader, the interception of the vessel also involved the kidnapping of crew members.

Cuba's stance on the tanker seizure had already been made clear days earlier.

Last Wednesday, Havana accused the United States of committing an "act of piracy" following reports that the vessel had been confiscated off the coast of Venezuela.

An investigation by Axios revealed that the ship was carrying Venezuelan crude oil destined for Cuba, via a clandestine route tied to the black market energy sector.

Days later, the Cuban regime admitted that the seized oil was indeed bound for the island, openly criticizing the U.S. operation for obstructing Cuba's "hydrocarbon supplies."

The operation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI), and the Coast Guard, with support from the Department of Defense.

The vessel, a VLCC capable of carrying over 320,000 tons, had been under sanctions for years due to its connections with illicit Venezuelan and Iranian oil transport networks.

Axios reported that some of the crude was later resold by Cuba to Asian markets, including China, through schemes allegedly linked to relatives of Raúl Castro.

From the U.S., Donald Trump openly celebrated the capture of the vessel, calling it "the largest ever seized."

When asked by journalists about the fate of the seized oil, he sarcastically responded that the U.S. would keep the oil and joked about possibly following the ship's journey by helicopter.

U.S. officials described the operation as a "double blow," impacting both the finances of Nicolás Maduro's government and the energy supply sustaining the Cuban regime.

For many on the island, the incident highlighted Cuba's reliance on these oil shipments to keep its power plants and essential services running amid a prolonged energy crisis.