The U.S. is ramping up efforts to intercept vessels transporting Venezuelan oil following the recent seizure of a tanker, marking the first such action since sanctions were imposed in 2019. This move is part of a broader military buildup in the southern Caribbean aimed at increasing pressure on President Nicolas Maduro, with U.S. officials signaling more interventions are expected in the coming weeks. Shipowners and maritime agencies are now reconsidering their operations in Venezuelan waters due to heightened risks.
The U.S. Justice Department and Homeland Security had been planning these seizures for months, targeting vessels that may also be linked to other sanctioned countries like Iran. The recent seizure has already led to the cancellation of multiple shipments of Venezuela’s flagship oil grade, Merey, as shippers opt for safer routes. The U.S. Treasury has also imposed sanctions on six supertankers and several Venezuelan individuals in connection with recent oil exports.
While the Venezuelan government has condemned the U.S. actions as “theft,” legal experts assert that the seizures are not considered piracy under international law. U.S. officials maintain that these measures are necessary to combat illicit oil trade that funds narcoterrorism and rogue regimes.
