This Saturday, the United States intercepted and confiscated the cargo of an oil tanker sanctioned by Washington in international waters, off the coast of Venezuela. reported this Saturday The Countrybased on a report from the Reuters agency cited by several American media.
The operation, which was carried out by the US Coast Guard, is the second of its kind in less than two weeks, after on December 10 US forces seized the oil tanker Skipper, also sanctioned and transporting nearly 1.9 million barrels of crude oil, while sailing under the Guyanese flag.
The new seizure comes days after President Donald Trump announced a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. The measure clears up the few doubts about the role of oil in the US strategy against the Government of Nicolás Maduro, beyond the rhetoric focused on the fight against drug trafficking.
“With the military deployment against Venezuela, the US also sets its sights on Cuba,” analysts warn
So far, authorities have not specified the name of the ship or the exact location of the operation, but the event adds to growing pressure from Washington on Venezuelan energy trade.
Since the United States imposed oil sanctions on Venezuela in 2019, the country has resorted to a network of vessels known as a “ghost fleet,” similar to those used by Russia and Iran to circumvent the restrictions, according to analysts cited by The Country. These vessels often operate with false flags and navigation systems turned off to avoid detection, in a context of parallel trade that has allowed Caracas to continue exporting crude oil despite the embargo.
Despite threats of a total blockade, several oil tankers have set sail from Venezuelan ports in recent days, some escorted by military units, although exports have fallen significantly since the seizure of the Skipper, which has contributed to the rise in crude oil prices and the diversion of planned routes, adds the Spanish newspaper.
The Government of Nicolás Maduro has stated that it will maintain crude oil shipping commitments, especially to China, its main customer, with an estimated volume of about 700 thousand barrels per day. However, tensions with Washington and recent seizures complicate a trade that remains vital to the Venezuelan economy.
Washington, for its part, has defended the sanctions as part of its pressure against Chavismo, holding the Venezuelan government responsible for the expropriation of assets of US companies in past decades. Caracas has denounced that the US military deployment and confiscations are part of a strategy to suffocate the Venezuelan economy and control its energy resources.
