US Pursuing Third Oil Tanker Linked to Venezuela
The US Coast Guard is currently in active pursuit of a third oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, amidst escalating tensions in the region. This comes as US authorities have already seized two oil tankers this month—one just last Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:
Details on the Pursued Vessel
– The US is focusing on a sanctioned dark fleet vessel involved in Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion, according to a US official in a statement to CBS News.
– The vessel is reportedly flying a false flag and is under a judicial seizure order.
Recent Seizures of Oil Tankers
– Bella 1: This very large crude oil carrier was identified by British maritime risk management group Vanguard. It was reportedly en route to Venezuela to pick up oil. The US had placed the Bella 1 on its sanctions list last year, accusing its registered owner of having ties to Iran and providing support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The tanker did not comply with US attempts to board and fled northeast into the Atlantic Ocean.
– Skipper: On December 10, the Coast Guard seized the Skipper, which was allegedly transporting sanctioned oil from Venezuela to Iran. The Skipper was taken to Galveston, Texas, where it arrived on Sunday.
– Centuries: On Saturday, officials boarded the Centuries, which, while not on the US Treasury’s sanctions list, is suspected of carrying oil from Venezuela’s state-run oil company, PDVSA. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled it as part of Venezuela’s shadow fleet used to traffic oil and fund the Maduro regime.
Implications of These Actions
These seizure operations are part of the US’s growing pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Key developments since January include:
– Doubling the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture.
– Designating his government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
– Implementing a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
Venezuelan Response
President Maduro has condemned the US’s actions as piracy and accused the US of attempting to seize Venezuela’s vast oil wealth, which includes the world’s largest proven oil reserves. In response to the seizures, the United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency session at Venezuela’s request to discuss what Caracas terms ongoing US aggression.
International Reactions
China has publicly sided with Venezuela, denouncing what it perceives as unilateral and illegal sanctions that lack international legal basis. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stressed Venezuela’s right to independently develop and engage in mutually beneficial international cooperation.
As the situation evolves, the implications for regional stability and international relations remain significant. The pursuit of the third oil tanker linked to Venezuela exemplifies the complexities involved in US-Venezuela relations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.