US Pursues Third Venezuelan Oil Tanker in a Week
The US is pursuing a third Venezuelan oil tanker in less than a week, as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Caracas through what critics describe as an illegal naval blockade.
Venezuela, PUREWILAYAH.COM — The United States is pursuing a third Venezuelan oil tanker in less than a week, sharply escalating its maritime confrontation with Venezuela as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Caracas through what critics describe as an illegal naval blockade.
According to officials cited by Reuters, the US Coast Guard is currently tracking a tanker in international waters near Venezuela. The move marks the second such pursuit this weekend and the third in under seven days, reflecting a rapid escalation in enforcement of Washington’s unilateral oil sanctions.
One official confirmed to Reuters that the tanker was operating under US sanctions but refused to disclose its identity or exact location. All sources spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House has so far declined to respond to media inquiries regarding the latest operation.
Trump Declares Oil Blockade on Venezuela
Last week, Trump announced a full-scale maritime blockade targeting oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, openly framing the move as part of a broader effort to isolate the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
The decision was immediately condemned by critics as an act of economic warfare and regime-change policy, carried out without international authorization and in violation of maritime law.
Beyond naval patrols, Washington has reportedly expanded its military footprint in the region and carried out more than two dozen attacks on vessels operating in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. According to official estimates cited in the report, at least 100 people have been extrajudicially killed in these operations.
White House Claims “Black Market” Operations
Seeking to justify the seizures, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett claimed on Sunday that the first two tankers intercepted were allegedly operating illegally.
“They were black market ships,” Hassett said, adding that Americans should not worry about rising fuel prices as a result of the seizures.
The tankers were reportedly transporting crude oil to countries unilaterally sanctioned by Washington — a justification critics argue exposes the extraterritorial reach of US sanctions and the criminalization of sovereign trade.
Oil Market Rising
Despite White House assurances, energy analysts have warned that the escalating standoff could destabilize global energy markets.
An oil trader quoted by Reuters said the seizures significantly increase geopolitical risk, potentially pushing oil prices higher as Asian markets open.
“Traders are watching the US–Venezuela dynamic closely,” the trader said.
American Maritime Piracy
Venezuela has for some time been confronting what it describes as American maritime piracy.
Under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, the United States has carried out a military buildup in the Caribbean region, raising constant concerns over the possibility of a direct US military attack on Venezuelan territory.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has condemned actions against Venezuelan oil tankers as a “major crime,” stating that they constitute a clear violation of international law and binding treaties between states.
He added that all governments around the world are obligated to recognize maritime piracy as a serious crime and to severely punish its perpetrators under international law.