Venezuela has accused the US of committing "theft" and "international piracy" after American forces captured a sanctioned oil tanker near the South American country's coastline.
In a statement after the seizure on Wednesday, the far-left Venezuelan government accused the US of adopting a "policy of aggression" against the country and plotting to "plunder our energy resources".
It also claimed that the reasons behind America's "aggression" against Venezuela had "finally been revealed".
The statement read: "It is not migration. It is not drug trafficking. It is not democracy. It is not human rights.
The far-left Venezuelan government accused the US of adopting a "policy of aggression"
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"It has always been about our natural resources, our oil, our energy, the resources that belong exclusively to the Venezuelan people."
The Venezuelan government also accused the US of "imperial abuses" and said it plans to take the matter to all international bodies "to denounce this grave international crime".
It vowed to "defend with absolute determination its sovereignty, its natural resources, and its national dignity".
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello labelled the US as "murderers, thieves, pirates".
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello labelled the US as 'murderers, thieves, pirates'
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Mr Cabello referenced the Pirates of the Caribbean films, saying that unlike the "hero" Captain Jack Sparrow, "these guys (the Americans) are high seas criminals, buccaneers".
The Maduro regime official said actions like the oil tanker seizure show how the Americans have "started wars all over the world".
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a statement on social media following the operation.
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Ms Noem wrote: "America rules the waves. Today the US Coast Guard in collaboration with ICE, the FBI, the Department of War and the Justice Department led a targeted operation to seize a crude oil tanker sanctioned by the US government for transporting oil from Venezuela and Iran in support of foreign terrorist organisations.
"If you threaten our nation, or break the law, there is no place on land or sea where we won’t find you. Thank you to our brave service members. America FIRST."
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote that he was "proud of our great partners who executed the mission with us".
He added: "This administration’s efforts to crush foreign terrorist organisations and cut off their resources will continue day and night."
Ms Noem declared that 'America rules the waves' after the operation
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The seizure of the oil tanker comes amid escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela in recent months.
In August, the US offered a $50million (£37million) reward for information leading to the arrest of Mr Maduro.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi previously accused the dictator of collaborating with violent groups including organised crime group Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa drug cartel.
Ms Bondi said: "Maduro uses foreign terrorist organisations like Tren de Aragua, Sinaloa and Cartel of the Suns to bring deadly violence to our country."
The US offered a $50million (£37million) reward for information leading to the arrest of Mr Maduro in August
| GETTYSince September, the Trump administration has carried out 23 deadly strikes on small Venezuelan boats suspected of drug trafficking.
Last month, the US President urged Venezuelan dictator to flee the country with his family immediately during a call.
On November 29, Mr Trump declared the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela was "closed in its entirety".
Mr Maduro has long-accused the US of trying to topple his socialist regime, which has been accused of committing human rights abuses and crimes against humanity.
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