The Pentagon announces the seizure of an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean that violated sanctions against Venezuela
The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced in an official statement released Monday that U.S. forces successfully conducted a targeted operation that resulted in the seizure of the oil tanker "Aquila 2" in the Indian Ocean. This operation is part of ongoing efforts to enforce sanctions and the maritime embargo imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on vessels violating restrictions in the Caribbean region, primarily aimed at cutting off funding to the Venezuelan regime.
Details of the military operation
The ministry revealed details of the operation, stating that US forces pursued the tanker from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean. The operation was documented in a video released by US forces via the X platform, showing US soldiers conducting a helicopter-borne assault, rappelling down to secure the deck of the tanker, the Aquila 2, without incident or injuries. The statement confirmed that the vessel had violated the embargo and attempted to flee the sanctioned area before being pursued and intercepted.
Context of sanctions and embargoes
This incident is part of the "maximum pressure" strategy adopted by the US administration against Venezuela, which has included bolstering its military presence in the Caribbean. These actions aim to combat drug trafficking and intercept shipments of sanctioned oil, which are the economic lifeline of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government. The Aquila II is the eighth vessel seized by Washington since the imposition of this stringent embargo, and the second to be intercepted outside the immediate geographic scope of the Caribbean, following a similar incident in the North Atlantic in early January. This indicates an expansion of US surveillance and pursuit operations to include distant international waterways.
The phenomenon of the "ghost fleet" and the challenges of navigation
Despite the success of these operations, US officials acknowledge the difficulty of completely controlling illicit shipping. In this context, Admiral David Baratta indicated during a congressional hearing in early February that the seized vessels represent only "the tip of the iceberg." He explained that there is a so-called "ghost fleet," which may number as many as 800 vessels operating globally, employing sophisticated techniques to evade sanctions, such as disabling tracking devices and changing flags and names. This makes detecting and intercepting them a significant logistical and intelligence challenge for international naval forces.
This operation reflects Washington’s determination to pursue entities and vessels that violate sanctions wherever they are found, sending a strongly worded warning message to global shipping companies about the risks of dealing with systems subject to US sanctions.
