American military forces have carried out another operation to seize an oil tanker in the Caribbean, marking the latest escalation in Washington's efforts to control Venezuela's petroleum exports. A senior US official confirmed today that a fifth vessel linked to the Olina tanker fleet was taken over near Trinidad.
Trump's 'Land Strikes' Warning and Maduro's Capture
The seizure follows a series of aggressive statements and actions from the White House. President Donald Trump recently told Fox News that 'we are going to start now hitting land', a warning issued after several military operations against Venezuelan boats allegedly ferrying drugs to the United States across the Caribbean Sea.
This maritime intervention comes just one week after Trump ordered a dramatic raid to capture Venezuela's President, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both now face narco-trafficking charges in the United States. Trump heralded the capture as 'extremely successful', calling it the greatest military operation since World War II.
US forces raided Maduro's residence, transporting him and his wife to New York where they await trial. During his initial court appearance, Maduro told the judge: 'I am innocent'.
Details of the Latest Tanker Seizure
The seized vessel, the Olina, was reportedly sailing under a false flag of Timor Leste. According to shipping sources familiar with the matter, the tanker had previously sailed from Venezuela and had returned to the region when it was captured on Friday.
British maritime risk management company, Vanguard, provided tracking data showing the vessel's AIS (Automatic Identification System) signal was last active 52 days ago in the Venezuelan Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), northeast of Curacao. The company stated: 'The seizure follows a prolonged pursuit of tankers linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments in the region.'
Strategic Ambitions and Regional Fallout
At a press conference held at his Mar-A-Lago estate, President Trump made his ambitions clear, stating he will 'run' Venezuela and plans to tap into the country's rich oil reserves to sell to other nations. This declaration underscores the economic motivations behind the recent military and judicial actions.
The ongoing campaign represents a significant hardening of US policy towards the South American nation, moving beyond sanctions to direct military intervention and asset seizure. The capture of a head of state and the systematic targeting of oil shipments are unprecedented steps in modern hemispheric relations, likely to have profound consequences for regional stability and international law.
