Caracas, Dec. 21 -- Tensions between Caracas and Washington reached a boiling point this weekend as Venezuela condemned the seizure of another oil tanker off its shores, Russia Today reported.

The Venezuelan government has labelled the move an "act of piracy" and a direct attempt by the United States to seize the country's energy resources and topple its leadership.

In a scathing official statement, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry denounced the "theft and hijacking" of a private vessel that was transporting Venezuelan oil through international waters.

Caracas went further, accusing US military personnel of the "forced disappearance" of the ship's crew, as per Russia Today.

The Venezuelan government argued that this latest interception...