Washington. The oil tanker seized yesterday by the United States and linked to Venezuela is sailing toward a U.S. port, where the federal government intends to confiscate its cargo through a formal legal process, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Thursday.

The official highlighted during the press conference that the Department of Justice approved an order authorizing the seizure of the vessel.

"There is a legal process for the confiscation of that oil, and that legal process will be carried out," Leavitt stated.

The oil tanker, which had been under sanctions for years, was stormed by US forces on Wednesday in the Caribbean, an act described as"blatant theft" and "piracy" by Caracas.

Oil is the main source of revenue for the Maduro government, and this seizure represents a significant increase in pressure.

"We will not stand idly by and watch as sanctioned vessels sail with smuggled crude oil, the profits of which serve to fuel the narco-terrorism of illegitimate regimes," the spokeswoman added.

When asked whether the campaign in the Caribbean was aimed at drug trafficking or oil, Leavitt replied:"The United States is focused on achieving several things in the Western Hemisphere (editor's note: the American continent)."

"The president has adopted a new approach that hasn't been taken by any administration for quite some time," he added.

The White House last week published a new National Security Strategy that elevates Latin America and the Caribbean to a region of essential interest, given the presence of China and regimes that Washington considers hostile.