US Pursuing Third Oil Tanker Near Venezuela

The United States is pursuing an oil tanker in waters near Venezuela, according to multiple news agency reports.

Washington considered the vessel to be part of Venezuela's "sanctioned dark fleet" under "Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion," according to the Reuters and Associated Press reports each citing an unnamed US official.

Both reports cited a US official as saying the vessel was flying a false flag and had been placed under a judicial ⁠seizure order by the US.

Reuters cited a different official as saying that the tanker had not been boarded and that interceptions can also take the form of sailing close to the vessel being pursued.

Why is the US blocking Venezuelan oil tankers?

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump announced a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

On Truth Social, Trump also announced that he was designating the Venezuelan regime as "a foreign terrorist organisation." He cited reasons including the theft of assets, terrorism, drug smuggling, and human trafficking.

The US Coast Guard seized an oil tanker off Venezuela on Saturday. This was the second vessel taken by Washington in the campaign, with the first tanker seized last week.

Venezuela has denounced the seizures as "theft" and "international piracy" and has vowed to defend its sovereignty and natural resources.

Trump has called for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down and has suggested the US could carry out air strikes targeting Venezuela.

Washington accuses Maduro's government, without presenting evidence, of having ties to the Cartel de los Soles criminal organization.

The US has destroyed multiple Venezuelan boats in the Caribbean, which it alleges were trafficking drugs, over the last several months in strikes that have killed at least 90 people.

Source: DW