US Pursuing Third Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela
The US Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a vessel in international waters close to Venezuela, as regional tensions rise. This move follows the seizure of two oil tankers earlier in the month, one of which was intercepted just last Saturday. Here’s what you need to know about the ongoing situation involving Venezuela and the US:
Recent Ship Pursuits
– The latest pursuit involves a sanctioned dark fleet vessel, as reported by a US official, which is believed to be evading sanctions linked to Venezuela.
– This vessel is reportedly flying a false flag and is under a judicial seizure order.
Background on Tanker Seizures
– The Trump administration accused Venezuela of using oil revenue to support drug trafficking. In contrast, Venezuelan authorities have condemned the seizures as acts of piracy.
– On Saturday, US officials identified the tanker Bella 1—a very large crude oil carrier—as a target. It was en route to Venezuela to pick up oil and was previously added to the US sanctions list for allegedly carrying sanctioned cargo.
– The US Treasury Department linked Bella 1’s registered owner to Iran, accusing them of supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Distress Signals and Pursuit
– BBC Verify analyzed 50 distress signals from Bella 1, indicating it was moving at an estimated speed of around 10 knots (11.5 mph). The first signal was noted at 13:44 GMT on December 21, 461 km (286 miles) northeast of Antigua, while the last call came at 17:13 GMT the same day, 60 km (37 miles) further northeast.
Previous Seizures
– The Bella 1 is the third tanker targeted by the US in these waters this month. On December 10, the Coast Guard seized the Skipper, described by US Attorney General Pam Bondi as used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela to Iran. The Skipper has since been taken to Galveston, Texas.
– Just last Saturday, US Coast Guard personnel boarded another tanker named Centuries. Although not listed as sanctioned by the US Treasury, the White House reported that it was used to transport oil from Venezuela’s state-run oil company, PDVSA. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the Centuries was part of Venezuela’s shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil and finance the Maduro regime.
Increased Tensions and International Reactions
– The tanker seizures are a significant part of the US’s pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Since the start of January, the US has doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture, designated his government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and initiated a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers entering and exiting Venezuela.
– Venezuelan officials have expressed outrage, as the country relies heavily on oil profits to fund government expenditures. President Maduro’s comments on Sunday described US actions as piracy, accusing the US of attempting to seize Venezuela’s oil wealth, which includes the world’s largest proven reserves.
– In response, the United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency session at Venezuela’s request to address what Caracas considers ongoing US aggression.
– On Monday, China supported Venezuela by denouncing the unilateral US sanctions, arguing that they lack a basis in international law or UN Security Council authorization. A foreign ministry spokesperson stated that Venezuela has the right to develop independently and engage in cooperative relationships with other nations.
The situation surrounding the US pursuit of the third oil tanker linked to Venezuela underscores escalating geopolitical tensions and the complexities of international sanctions and oil trade.