The President's Daily Brief PDB Afternoon Bulletin | December 11th, 2025: Why The Legal Justification For The Tanker Seizure Is Solid & U.S. Chips in Putin’s Arsenal
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Dec 11, 2025 A dramatic U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker sparks a debate over legality, with Venezuela accusing the U.S. of piracy. The discussion dives into the legal framework supporting the seizure, revealing links to Iran and Hezbollah. In a turn to tech, lawsuits hit American chipmakers for allegedly supplying chips that ended up in Russian missiles used in Ukraine. The implications could reshape corporate compliance and export controls as human experiences and wrongful death claims emerge from the conflict.
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Sanctions Enable In-Rem Seizures
- The seized tanker was part of Iran's shadow fleet used to conceal oil shipments tied to Hezbollah and the IRGC Quds Force.
- U.S. sanctions and maritime forfeiture law allow in-rem seizure of vessels materially supporting designated terrorist networks.
Venezuela Calls It Piracy
- Venezuela labeled the seizure an "act of piracy" while the U.S. insists the legal case is clear.
- Mike Baker contrasts that protest with longstanding critiques of Venezuela's own actions domestically.
Shadow Fleet Tactics Explained
- The Skipper (formerly Adisa) was sanctioned in 2022 for obscuring ownership, changing flags, and turning off transponders.
- Those opaque practices are central to what U.S. authorities call a sanctions-evasion network that justifies seizure.