The United States Coast Guard has launched another high-stakes maritime operation, actively pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela. This marks the third such interception attempt by US authorities in less than two weeks, significantly escalating pressure on the Nicolas Maduro-led government.
The Pursuit of the 'Dark Fleet' Vessel
According to US officials speaking to Reuters, the vessel being chased is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion network, often referred to as a 'dark fleet'. The ship is reportedly flying a false flag and is under a judicial seizure order. While the officials did not disclose the exact location or name the tanker, maritime intelligence firms have identified it.
The pursued vessel is the Bella 1, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) sanctioned by the US Treasury Department last year for its links to Iran. Data from TankerTrackers.com indicated the Bella 1 was empty as it approached Venezuelan waters on Sunday. The vessel has a history of transporting Venezuelan oil to China in 2021, as per PDVSA documents, and has also carried Iranian crude.
Trump's Escalating Pressure Campaign
This operation is part of a broader pressure campaign initiated by US President Donald Trump against the Maduro administration. Last week, Trump announced a 'blockade' targeting all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. The strategy has involved a ramped-up military presence and over two dozen military strikes on vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, resulting in at least 100 fatalities.
The campaign has already seen seizures. The first Venezuela-related vessel, the VLCC named 'The Skipper', was seized on December 10 and arrived at the Galveston Offshore Lightering Area near Houston this past Sunday. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House's National Economic Council, stated the seized tankers were operating on the black market, supplying oil to sanctioned nations, and assured the public that these actions would not drive up US oil prices.
Potential Market and Geopolitical Fallout
However, analysts warn of potential ripple effects. UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo suggested that the new interceptions could push oil prices modestly higher when Asian markets open, as participants may view this as an escalation risking more Venezuelan barrels. The impact on Venezuela could be severe and swift.
Francisco Monaldi of Rice University's Baker Institute warned that falling export volumes and filling storage tanks could force Venezuela, an OPEC producer, to cut output. While President Maduro vowed on Wednesday that the country's oil trade would continue, analysts agree the renewed US focus on tankers raises geopolitical risks and will likely hurt Venezuela's crucial oil revenue.
The White House did not provide an immediate comment on the latest pursuit this Sunday. As the US continues its naval operations, the world watches for the next move in this tense geopolitical standoff.
