US military forces have stopped and seized another oil tanker near the coasts of Venezuela. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This incident occurred just a few days after US President Donald Trump ordered the blocking of all oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela that are under sanctions. The Venezuelan government called this action "theft" and announced that there would be a response to such US measures.
Caracas officials stated that they intend to use all legal means on the international stage, including appealing to the UN Security Council. This is the second case of an oil tanker being stopped within two weeks.
Notably, the ship seized this time was not on the US sanctions list. Therefore, questions are increasing regarding this incident.
In recent months, the US has significantly increased its military presence near Venezuelan shores. While Washington explains these actions as part of the fight against drug trafficking, Caracas assesses the US objectives differently.
According to the Venezuelan leadership, the US is trying to strengthen control over the country's natural resources, especially oil, and to change Venezuela's political system. According to reports, since September, the US has targeted more than 20 ships suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea.
At least 87 people have died during these operations. On December 10, the US also seized a large oil tanker named "Skipper," which was under sanctions due to its ties with Iran.
The operation on December 20 was carried out with the support of the US Coast Guard military. A special team boarded the ship in international waters and stopped it.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem made a social media statement, releasing a video of the operation and emphasizing that America will continue to fight against oil circulation that does not comply with sanctions and is used to finance narco-terrorism. According to media reports, the seized ship "Centuries" was not on the US sanctions list.
According to CNN, this tanker sailing under the Panamanian flag was heading towards Asia. BBC Verify reported that the tanker previously belonged to China and at various times sailed under the flags of Greece and Liberia.
Although US sanctions against Venezuelan oil remain in place, there are exceptions for some companies. For example, Chevron continues to operate in several fields in Venezuela and cooperates with the state-owned company Petroleos de Venezuela.
These events indicate the increasingly tense relations between the US and Venezuela. The future development of this situation may become clear in the coming days.
