U.S. Forces Intercept Oil Tanker Near Venezuela Amid Heightened Tensions
In a continued show of force, U.S. military personnel intercepted an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast early Saturday. This marks the second such operation in a span of less than two weeks as President Donald Trump intensifies efforts against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The recent operation follows President Trump’s announcement of a “blockade” targeting sanctioned oil vessels entering or exiting Venezuela. This comes on the heels of the U.S. taking control of another tanker, the Skipper, earlier this month.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared details about the interception, confirming the involvement of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Defense Department. She released a video via social media, showcasing a U.S. helicopter deploying personnel onto the vessel, identified as the Centuries.
Operating under the Panamanian flag, the Centuries was last seen near Venezuela, as tracked by MarineTraffic, a global vessel monitoring service. There remains uncertainty regarding the vessel’s status under U.S. sanctions.
In a social media post, Noem emphasized, “The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you.”
U.S. officials described the action as a “consented boarding,” with the tanker voluntarily allowing U.S. forces to board. The rationale behind the Centuries’ interception remains less clear compared to the Skipper, which was part of a shadow fleet known for moving sanctioned cargo.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly alleged that the Centuries was a “falsely flagged vessel operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil.” Yet, Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano, an expert in maritime history, stated that the Centuries appeared to be legally registered, albeit likely carrying sanctioned oil.
Mercogliano remarked, “Everything indicates that she is a properly registered vessel,” but he acknowledged the situation as a significant escalation meant to deter other tankers.
Venezuela’s government condemned the U.S. actions as “criminal,” promising to pursue legal measures through the United Nations Security Council. “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically denounces and rejects the theft and hijacking of another private vessel transporting Venezuelan oil,” read an official statement.
Following the earlier seizure of the Skipper, President Trump affirmed a blockade against Venezuela, aligning with his assertive stance against Maduro. He also demanded the return of assets seized from U.S. oil companies, citing ongoing disputes over oil investments as part of his pressure campaign against Maduro’s regime.
Trump has further justified these actions by highlighting lost U.S. investments in Venezuela’s oil industry, which was nationalized under Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez. Compensation to U.S. companies like ExxonMobil was deemed insufficient by international arbitration.
Alongside targeting oil tankers, Trump has ordered military operations in the Caribbean and Pacific to disrupt alleged drug-smuggling activities, resulting in 104 fatalities from 28 known strikes since September. These actions have faced scrutiny over evidence and legality, with the administration claiming an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.
The U.S. military presence in the region has significantly increased, with Trump suggesting that land attacks are forthcoming. Meanwhile, Maduro has accused these operations of primarily aiming to oust him from power.
White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles stated in a Vanity Fair interview that Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.”
