Venezuela Oil: US Pursues Third Tanker 🚢

The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing a vessel in international waters near Venezuela as tensions escalate between the two countries. This comes after U.S. authorities seized two oil tankers this month, alleging sanctions evasion by Venezuela.

Venezuela Oil Tanker Pursuit

Sunday’s pursuit involves a “sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion,” according to a U.S. official. The vessel is reportedly flying a false flag and is subject to a judicial seizure order.

The U.S. has accused Venezuela of using revenue from oil sales to fund drug-related crime. Venezuela, in turn, has characterized the tanker seizures as “theft and kidnapping.”

Last week, President Donald Trump ordered a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has accused the Trump administration of attempting to steal its resources.

U.S. authorities have not yet officially confirmed Sunday’s pursuit, and the tanker’s exact location and name remain unknown. As of last week, more than 30 of the 80 ships in Venezuelan waters or approaching the country were under U.S. sanctions, according to data compiled by TankerTrackers.com.

On Saturday, a Panamanian-flagged tanker was boarded by a specialized tactical team in international waters. While the ship is not currently listed on the U.S. Treasury’s list of sanctioned vessels, U.S. authorities stated it was carrying “sanctioned PDVSA oil.” Records indicate the ship previously sailed under the flags of Greece and Liberia.

The Venezuelan government responded to Saturday’s seizure, stating, “These acts will not go unpunished.” It intends to file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council and “other multilateral agencies and the governments of the world.”

Venezuela relies heavily on income from its oil exports to fund government spending.

In recent weeks, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea and conducted strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, resulting in approximately 100 deaths. Sanctions have also been imposed on relatives of President Nicolás Maduro and businesses linked to what the U.S. considers his illegitimate regime.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Friday that the current situation with the Venezuelan regime is “intolerable” for the United States, and the administration aims to change it. Venezuelan Foreign Minister criticized Rubio’s comments, accusing him of leading the U.S. down a path of “regime changes.”

The U.S. has accused Maduro of leading Cartel de los Soles, a designated-terrorist organization, which he denies. The military has faced increasing scrutiny from Congress regarding the recent strikes, and has provided no public evidence that the vessels were carrying drugs.