U.S. Coast Guard's Pursuit of Oil Tankers
According to U.S. officials, the Coast Guard is actively pursuing a vessel believed to be associated with the "dark fleet" of oil tankers linked to Venezuela's sanctions imposed by the U.S. The tanker has been cited for its association with Venezuelan efforts to evade U.S. sanctions via knowingly false flag operations, judicial seizure orders, and collaboration with other vessels associated with these conditions. Earlier this year, U.S. authorities seized two oil tankers, including a third one on Saturday. The U.S. Coast Guard used an elite tactical boarding team to board a Panamanian-flagged vessel operating on the high seas.While the seized vessel was not designated as a vessel listed on the U.S. Treasury's sanctions list, the vessel had oil from PDVSA (Petróleos de Venezuela S.A.), which is sanctioned. The vessel is also one of over 30 of the 80 vessels currently either actively operating in, transiting to, or from Venezuela, with more being reported every day, that are listed on the U.S. sanctions list by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Over the last five years, this vessel has also operated under the Greek and Liberian flags.
Response and Escalation of Venezuela
Venezuela has condemned the seizure of these vessels and has branded them as acts of theft and kidnapping, warning that the country will retaliate against these actions. Venezuela plans to file complaints with the UN Security Council and other international organizations regarding theft and kidnapping, which are violations of international law, including the theft of the country's resources.Earlier this week, President Trump ordered the U.S. Coast Guard to blockade any oil tankers attempting to enter or leave Venezuela that had been designated by the U.S. Treasury as being associated with the Figuras in the complex Venezuela structures. Since then, the U.S. has increased its military operations along the Caribbean, including conducting air strikes against Venezuelan vessels alleged to be drug smuggling boats, resulting in the deaths of approximately 100 persons. To date, however, the U.S. has not provided evidence publicly supporting the claim that these vessels were, in fact, engaged in drug smuggling.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the current regime in Venezuela is "intolerable" to the United States and stated that the sole goal of the Trump administration is to effect change to this regime. Venezuela's foreign minister condemned Secretary Rubio's statement, accusing him of inciting U.S. interventionism, or a "regime change." The Trump administration has also imposed sanctions against several relatives of President Maduro and against businesses affiliated with what the U.S. classifies as an "illegitimate" government, and President Maduro continues to deny the U.S. claims that he leads a designated terrorist organization named the Cartel de los Soles.
