US Coast Guard pursues another vessel in Venezuela waters after seizing two oil tankers, escalating US-Venezuela tensions over sanctions and oil exports.
us coast guard, venezuela, oil tankers, sanctions, international waters, pdvsa, tensions, trump administration
The US Coast Guard is currently in “active pursuit” of another vessel in international waters near Venezuela, as reported by a US official to CBS News. This development comes on the heels of increased tensions and follows the recent seizure of two oil tankers thought to be part of Venezuela’s so-called “dark fleet” engaged in illegal sanctions evasion.
According to US authorities, one of the seized oil tankers was intercepted on Saturday. Sunday’s pursuit focuses on a vessel described as flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order, believed to be linked to Venezuela’s ongoing attempts to circumvent international sanctions.
Washington has long accused Venezuela of profiting from oil sales to support drug-related criminal activities. The Venezuelan government, however, labels these actions by the US as “theft and kidnapping,” stating they violate its sovereignty and legal trade.
Recently, US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers attempting to enter or leave Venezuela. In response, Venezuelan officials have condemned these actions, claiming the United States is trying to steal their valuable oil resources. The government also announced plans to file a formal complaint with the UN Security Council and other multilateral agencies.
As of last week, more than 30 of the 80 ships either in Venezuelan waters or approaching the country were under US sanctions, based on data from TankerTrackers.com. The most recent seizure involved a Panamanian-flagged tanker boarded by US tactical forces. While not listed on the US Treasury’s sanctioned vessels, it was carrying sanctioned PDVSA oil, according to authorities.
The vessel, now being pursued, is suspected of similar violations and is said to be involved in the transport of Venezuelan oil, which is under sanction for its links to the country’s government funding.
Venezuela, which holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, relies heavily on oil export revenue to fund government spending. The ongoing sanctions and active blockades have severely impacted its economy and ability to trade internationally.
Furthermore, in recent weeks, the United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea, launching deadly strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats. With nearly 100 people killed in these actions, US military operations have come under growing scrutiny from Congress, especially since no public evidence has been provided proving these vessels contained drugs.
The Trump administration has gone so far as to accuse Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a designated terrorist organization, Cartel de los Soles, a claim Maduro denies. These rising tensions have further complicated US-Venezuela relations and drawn significant attention from global observers.
For more on ongoing conflicts and regional instability, visit our International News coverage.
For the original source, read the full report on BBC News.
The son of Norway's Crown Princess is due to return to a court in Oslo…
Russia's gains on the battlefield have forced Natalia to rebury her husband in Kyiv. Source…
The artist who painted the cherub has admitted it was Giorgia Meloni's face, as the…
Supporters have questioned whether the 25-year-old, who identifies as non-binary, could receive a fair trial…
The project would have built on the ruins of the defence ministry bombed by Nato…
Lawyers for the unnamed woman claim she was 'treated like a prostitute' at Jeffrey Epstein's…