US authorities are reportedly pursuing a third oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, following two previous seizures this month. This ongoing action is part of the United States' efforts to enforce sanctions against Venezuela.
Sanctions Enforcement and Seizures
A US official stated that the pursuit on Sunday involved a "sanctioned dark fleet vessel" allegedly engaged in "illegal sanctions evasion" by Venezuela, operating under a "false flag" and subject to a "judicial seizure order." The US Coast Guard is actively involved in this pursuit.
Prior to Sunday, US authorities had seized two other oil tankers this month. One of these seizures occurred on Saturday, involving a Panamanian-flagged tanker boarded by a specialized tactical team in international waters. While this vessel was not listed on the US Treasury's sanctioned vessels list, the US stated it was transporting "sanctioned PDVSA oil." Records indicated that the ship had previously sailed under Greek and Liberian flags over the past five years.
US and Venezuelan Positions
The US has alleged that Venezuela utilizes oil revenues to finance drug-related crime. Last week, US President Donald Trump issued an order for a "blockade" targeting sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela.
Venezuela, which possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, has accused the US administration of attempting to appropriate its resources. The Venezuelan government characterized the tanker seizures as "theft and kidnapping." In response to Saturday's incident, Venezuela stated, "These acts will not go unpunished," and announced its intent to file a complaint with the UN Security Council and other international bodies.
Broader Regional Context
Data from TankerTrackers.com indicated that over 30 of the 80 vessels in or approaching Venezuelan waters were subject to US sanctions as of last week.
In recent weeks, the US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea and conducted operations against vessels identified as alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats. These operations reportedly resulted in approximately 100 fatalities. Public evidence directly linking these vessels to drug transport has not been provided by the US, leading to increased scrutiny from Congress regarding these operations.
The US administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading the "Cartel de los Soles," which it designates as a terrorist organization. President Maduro denies these accusations. Venezuela's government relies significantly on oil export revenues for its financing.