The United States is gearing up to intercept more vessels carrying Venezuelan oil after seizing a tanker earlier this week, as part of efforts to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, according to six sources familiar with the situation. This seizure marked the first time an oil cargo or tanker from Venezuela had been intercepted since the country came under U.S. sanctions in 2019. The move coincides with a significant military buildup in the southern Caribbean and ongoing efforts by U.S. President Donald Trump to remove Maduro from power.
The recent U.S. action has raised concerns among shipowners, operators, and maritime agencies involved in transporting Venezuelan crude, prompting many to reconsider their plans to sail from Venezuelan waters in the near future, as reported by shipping sources. Additional interventions by the U.S. are anticipated in the upcoming weeks, targeting ships carrying Venezuelan oil that may have also transported oil from other countries facing U.S. sanctions, such as Iran.
The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions on six supertankers and four individuals, including relatives of Venezuela’s first lady, who were reportedly involved in loading crude oil in Venezuela. These sanctions could potentially impact the financial stability of the Maduro government, heavily reliant on revenue from oil exports. The U.S. government is reportedly monitoring tankers at sea and vessels in Venezuelan ports, waiting for them to sail into international waters before taking further action.
The new U.S. strategy focuses on the activities of the “shadow fleet” of tankers that transport sanctioned oil to China, one of the major buyers of Venezuelan and Iranian crude. The recent seizure of the tanker Skipper has caused disruptions in oil shipments, leading to the suspension of several voyages carrying millions of barrels of Venezuela’s flagship export grade, Merey. As the situation unfolds, the timing of additional seizures will depend on logistical arrangements for handling seized ships and unloading oil cargoes.
While the Venezuelan government has condemned the U.S. seizure as “theft,” legal experts suggest that the action does not qualify as international piracy under existing laws. The U.S. administration, through White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, emphasized its commitment to enforcing sanctions policies and preventing the illicit trade of oil that could support nefarious activities by rogue regimes worldwide.