In a further escalation of its stringent economic sanctions policy, the United States announced on Friday the seizure of another oil tanker sailing from Venezuela, the fifth such seizure in recent weeks. This move is part of Washington's ongoing efforts to tighten its grip on energy exports from sanctioned countries and combat what is known as the "ghost fleet," which attempts to circumvent international laws.
Details of the confiscation process
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed via her official X account that U.S. authorities had successfully seized the tanker "Olena." Noem explained that the vessel was part of a clandestine fleet suspected of transporting internationally prohibited oil, noting that the seizure occurred after the tanker was spotted sailing from Venezuela in a desperate attempt to evade U.S. naval forces.
Reports indicate that the tanker "Olena" was attempting to breach the embargo imposed by Washington on crude oil exports from Caracas, an embargo aimed at reducing the Venezuelan regime's financial revenues.
The context of sanctions and the concept of the "shadow fleet"
This operation comes within a long history of tension between Washington and Caracas, with the United States having imposed harsh sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company (PDVSA) for years as a means of exerting political and economic pressure. This embargo has led Venezuela, and other countries such as Iran and Russia, to rely on what is known as a "shadow fleet" or "ghost fleet.".
This fleet consists of older vessels that often disable their Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders, frequently change their names and flags, and engage in ship-to-ship oil transfers at sea to conceal the origin of their cargo. The seizure of the Olena demonstrates the growing capabilities of U.S. intelligence in tracking these vessels despite their sophisticated attempts at camouflage.
International cooperation and tightening the noose in the Atlantic
The US campaign is not limited to waters near the Americas, but extends to close cooperation with European allies. In a related development, the British Ministry of Defence revealed that it provided crucial "operational" assistance to US forces in seizing a Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic.
The British statement said that Royal Marines helped intercept the vessel Bella 1 (now renamed Marinera) in the strait between Britain, Iceland, and Greenland. This military cooperation between Washington and London sends a clear message that the waterways of the North Atlantic are under close surveillance and that attempts to smuggle Russian or Venezuelan oil will be met with a firm and coordinated response.
Economic and geopolitical dimensions
This event carries significant geopolitical implications, underscoring the US administration's determination to enforce economic sanctions with unprecedented rigor. These successive seizures are expected to drive up insurance and shipping costs for smuggled oil, diminishing the economic viability of attempts to circumvent sanctions and increasing financial pressure on the targeted economies of both Venezuela and Russia.
