The United States has intensified its pressure campaign on Venezuela by seizing another oil tanker in waters off the South American nation's coast. This marks the second such interception in a week, signalling a dramatic escalation in Washington's efforts to enforce sanctions against the government of Nicolás Maduro.
Operation Details and Military Build-Up
According to American officials, the ongoing seizure operation is being led by the US Coast Guard, with direct support provided by US military helicopters. Both the Coast Guard and the Pentagon have deferred questions to the White House, which has not yet issued an official statement on the latest action.
This follows the seizure of the sanctioned oil tanker Skipper last week. The US has steadily amassed naval forces in the Caribbean region, effectively placing Venezuela under a maritime embargo. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the area last month, contributing to what President Donald Trump described on Tuesday as the largest armada ever assembled in South American history.
Trump's "Total Blockade" and Accusations
In a social media post, President Trump declared a "TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE" of all sanctioned oil tankers attempting to enter or leave Venezuela. He branded Maduro's regime as "illegitimate" and a "foreign terrorist organisation." The US President has consistently accused the Venezuelan government of deep involvement in the international drugs trade, authorising deadly strikes against vessels suspected of narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
In response, President Maduro alleges that the true aim of the US operation is to orchestrate his overthrow and seize Venezuela's vast oil reserves.
Impact on the "Shadow Fleet" and Global Oil Trade
The aggressive US stance has caused significant disruption to maritime traffic. Dozens of vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil are now anchored in Venezuelan waters, fearing interception. Many of these ships are part of a so-called "shadow fleet"—tankers that use concealing tactics to transport cargo for sanctioned nations like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.
Data from TankerTrackers.com indicates that more than 70 oil tankers were in Venezuelan waters this week, with approximately 38 of them under US Treasury sanctions. The seizures and blockade threat directly target this clandestine network, aiming to cut off a vital financial lifeline for the Maduro government.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the US naval presence poised to grow further. President Trump warned that the shock to Venezuela "will be like nothing they have ever seen before," suggesting that the pressure campaign is far from over.
