The US seizes a sixth oil tanker in the Caribbean: details of the escalation against Venezuela
The United States announced on Thursday that it had carried out a new qualitative operation in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, which resulted in the seizure of an oil tanker that was trying to violate the imposed sanctions, as part of its ongoing strategy to tighten the economic noose around Venezuela and restrict its oil exports, which are the main artery of the regime there.
In the field details of the operation, the US military command for the two US regions (Southern Command – SOUTHCOM) stated via its official account on the “X” platform that the detained ship is named “Veronica”, a new tanker that attempted to challenge the strict economic embargo imposed by the previous US administration headed by Donald Trump on the Venezuelan oil sector, which is still in effect as a tool of political and economic pressure.
The command explained that units of US Marines and sailors carried out the takeover of the tanker in the early hours of the morning, confirming that the operation was conducted smoothly and without any significant incidents or resistance. This vessel is the sixth that the United States has successfully seized in a series of operations aimed at cutting off oil revenues to the government of Nicolás Maduro. The command released a video documenting the moment soldiers rappelled onto the deck of the ship, accompanied by a firm statement: "The only oil that will leave Venezuela is that which is properly and legally coordinated.".
Context of the sanctions and historical background:
This incident comes as part of the "maximum pressure" campaign that Washington has been waging against Caracas for years. These sanctions primarily target the Venezuelan state-owned oil company (PDVSA), with the aim of depriving the Venezuelan government of hard currency. Venezuela, which possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, is almost entirely dependent on crude oil exports, making these sanctions devastating to its domestic economy.
The strategic importance and impact of this event
: This seizure carries significant geopolitical implications, underscoring the United States' determination to monitor waterways in the Caribbean and prevent any attempts to circumvent sanctions, whether through vessels of unknown ownership or complex smuggling networks. Observers believe that the continued detention of the tankers sends a strong message to global shipping and insurance companies to refrain from dealing with unauthorized Venezuelan oil, further isolating Venezuela's energy sector.
On a regional level, this measure reflects the ongoing tension in relations between Washington and Caracas, and indicates that the energy file remains the strongest pressure card in the hands of the US administration to try to impose political changes or push the Venezuelan regime towards serious negotiations, in light of the deteriorating living and economic conditions inside the country.
