A senior official in Donald Trump's administration has moved to calm concerns that recent seizures of oil tankers will lead to higher prices at the petrol pump for American consumers.
US Crackdown on 'Shadow Fleet' Continues
The United States has seized two oil tankers within a single week and was reportedly in "active pursuit" of a third vessel off the coast of Venezuela on Sunday, 21 December 2025. This action forms a key part of President Trump's ongoing crackdown on what the White House terms a "shadow fleet" of vessels operating near Venezuelan waters.
Kevin Hassett, the director of the White House's National Economic Council, addressed the situation directly. He stated on Sunday that the two tankers were seized specifically because they were operating on the black market and providing oil to nations currently under international sanctions.
Official Reassurance vs. Market Jitters
"And so I don't think that people need to be worried here in the U.S. that the prices are going to go up because of these seizures of these ships," Hassett told CBS's Face the Nation. He emphasised the limited scale of the action, noting, "There's just a couple of them, and they were black market ships."
Despite these official reassurances aimed at the American public, reactions within the global oil markets have been more cautious. Oil traders and analysts are anticipating a modest increase in oil prices, particularly when Asian trading resumes on Monday following the seizures. One oil trader, speaking to Reuters, suggested the actions could push crude prices slightly higher.
Implications for Global Energy Markets
The seizures highlight the Trump administration's continued hardline approach to enforcing sanctions, particularly targeting Venezuela's oil exports. While the immediate impact on US fuel supplies is downplayed by officials, the events underscore the fragile nature of global energy logistics and how geopolitical enforcement actions can create ripples through the markets.
The pursuit of a third vessel indicates that the US campaign against the sanctioned oil trade is ongoing, potentially setting the stage for further disruptions. Market watchers will be closely monitoring the price of Brent crude as trading begins in Asia for any sustained effect from this weekend's dramatic events.
