U.S. Escalates Sanctions Against Venezuela Amid Oil Seizures

The U.S. has intensified sanctions against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro following the seizure of the oil tanker The Skipper off the coast of Venezuela. According to CBS News, the operation involved special operations forces and was launched from the USS Gerald R.

Ford. The tanker, which was sanctioned in 2022 for its role in an oil smuggling network, was used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the vessel is undergoing a forfeiture process and the U.S. intends to seize the oil on board.

Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that new sanctions target Maduro's family and the oil sector, reflecting a strategy to destabilize his regime amid ongoing economic struggles in Venezuela. The Guardian notes that Maduro has denounced the seizure as an act of piracy and vowed to secure the free trade of Venezuelan oil.

This situation is part of a broader U.S. strategy that has included threats to strike land targets in Venezuela, raising concerns among lawmakers about potential military escalation. The seizure of The Skipper and the accompanying sanctions indicate a significant escalation in U.S. pressure against Maduro's government, impacting international oil markets and diplomatic relations in the region.