U.S. Coast Guard Intensifies Pursuit of Venezuelan Oil Tankers

The U.S. Coast Guard is intensifying its pursuit of sanctioned oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela, marking a significant escalation in the U.S. government's efforts to enforce sanctions against the Maduro regime.

According to CBS News, the Coast Guard was involved in the pursuit of a tanker on Sunday, which was described as a 'sanctioned dark fleet vessel' under a judicial seizure order. This vessel is reportedly part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion and was flying a false flag.

The pursuit follows the seizure of another vessel, the Centuries, on Saturday, which was said to be operating as part of Venezuela's shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil, as noted by White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly.

The Venezuelan government condemned these seizure actions, labeling them as acts of piracy and promising to take the issue to the United Nations Security Council. Trump has called for a total blockade on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, reflecting the administration's commitment to applying pressure on Maduro.

The Coast Guard's actions come amid a broader military campaign, which has included attacks on vessels allegedly smuggling fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the U.S. The Coast Guard’s recent operations are expected to further strain U.S.-Venezuela relations and could have implications for international maritime law, as noted by The Guardian.