U.S. Confiscates Fifth Oil Tanker Amid Pressure Campaign Against Venezuela

Seizure of Another Oil Tanker in the Caribbean

U.S. military forces have seized yet another oil tanker in the Caribbean, continuing their efforts to target vessels sanctioned by Washington in its pressure campaign against Venezuela. In a statement released on Friday, U.S. Southern Command announced that its forces apprehended the tanker Olina "without incident."

Details regarding the specific reasons for targeting the vessel or any potential violations have not been provided. The Wall Street Journal reported that the tanker had previously been sanctioned by Washington for transporting Russian oil. This operation comes just two days after U.S. forces seized two other tankers, including a Russian-flagged vessel, Marinera, formerly known as Bella-1.

Following the seizure, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it is investigating the crew for failing to comply with Coast Guard orders and will pursue charges. Russia has condemned the confiscation as a "serious violation" of international maritime law, demanding that the U.S. release the crew.

Since U.S. forces abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Washington has vowed to maintain the blockade on sanctioned oil tankers, while simultaneously urging Venezuela to reduce its ties with Russia and China. Former President Donald Trump stated that the operation against Maduro, which has been widely condemned as a blatant violation of international law, as well as ongoing sanctions and military pressure, aims to open up Venezuela's vast oil reserves to American companies.

Trump had scheduled a meeting with executives from the oil and gas industry at the White House. The U.S. seized another tanker in the Caribbean earlier this week, M Sophia, which the military described as a "stateless vessel." Panama later declared that the ship's flag had been revoked by the country last year.

Previously, U.S. forces seized the tanker Skipper and the vessel Centuries in December. Last month, four UN experts stated that the U.S. does not have "the right to impose unilateral sanctions through an armed blockade," considering the blockade an "illegal armed aggression" under international law. A group of UN experts indicated that the Trump administration's plan to indefinitely control Venezuela's oil industry represents a violation of citizens' rights to self-determination.

On Friday morning, Trump stated on Truth Social that the U.S. and Venezuela are "working well together, especially regarding the reconstruction, in a much larger, better, and more modern way, of their oil and gas infrastructure." "Due to this collaboration, I have canceled the second Round of Attacks," he said, adding that U.S. military vessels will remain deployed in the area.