This past Sunday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Venezuela will remain steadfast in defending national peace and stability in the face of ongoing aggression. He noted that the country has endured 25 consecutive weeks of what he calls psychological terrorism and acts of piracy targeting its oil tankers 🕊️✊.
As one U.S. official told NBC News: “The United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion. It is flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.”
Here’s what’s happened:
- December 10: U.S. forces seized the tanker Skipper near Venezuelan waters and announced plans to keep its oil cargo.
- One day earlier: The supertanker Centuries, flagged in Panama and not on the sanctions list, was boarded off Venezuela. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said its cargo came from Petroleos de Venezuela SA, which is under U.S. sanctions.
- Current pursuit: The tanker Bella 1 is now under active pursuit, the third interception in less than two weeks.
On December 16, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, labeling Maduro’s government a “foreign terrorist organization.”
Oil exports are the backbone of Venezuela’s economy, accounting for the vast majority of its foreign revenue. Yet, dozens of tankers on the U.S. sanctions list continue to operate in Venezuelan waters, according to TankerTrackers.com.
Venezuela has accused Washington of seeking regime change and military expansion in Latin America, condemning the tanker interceptions as acts of piracy 🏴☠️.
As this oil standoff unfolds, many are wondering what’s next for Venezuela’s economy and its place on the world stage 🌎.
Reference(s):
Maduro says Venezuela steadfast in defending national peace, stability
cgtn.com
