The United States Coast Guard has initiated a pursuit of a third oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, marking a significant escalation in Washington's campaign of pressure against the government of Nicolás Maduro.
Military Buildup and a Series of Interceptions
This latest action, confirmed by officials to Reuters on Sunday 19 December, follows the seizure of two other merchant vessels carrying oil within the past week. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, indicated the tanker is subject to sanctions but did not reveal its precise location.
The operations are part of a reinforced American military presence in the region, ordered by President Donald Trump. His administration recently declared a "blockade" targeting all sanctioned oil tankers travelling to or from Venezuela. This strategy has included more than two dozen military strikes against vessels in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, resulting in at least 100 deaths.
Economic and Geopolitical Fallout
White House National Economic Council Director, Kevin Hassett, sought to downplay the impact on US consumers. Appearing on CBS News's Face the Nation, he stated the first two detained tankers were "black market ships" operating illegally and supplying oil to countries under sanctions. "I don't think that people need to be worried here in the US that the prices are going to go up because of these seizures," Hassett said.
However, an oil trader told Reuters that the increasing seizures are likely to drive oil prices higher when Asian markets reopen, though expectations of a potential end to the war in Ukraine could limit further increases. Both vessels seized earlier this month were reportedly headed to Asia.
Regime Change and the Spectre of War
The developments occur amidst stark rhetoric from US officials. Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma told CNN's State of the Union that he supports US-backed regime change in Venezuela, stating Maduro "is not the recognized leader"—a reference to the disputed 2024 presidential election.
President Trump himself has refused to rule out military conflict. In a phone interview with NBC News broadcast on Friday, he stated, "I don't rule it out, no," when asked about going to war with Maduro's regime. This stance comes as Maduro has urged his navy to escort oil tankers, defying the largest US fleet deployed in the region in decades.
The Venezuelan government has condemned the US actions, labelling the seizure of the first tanker on 10 December as "blatant theft" and "an act of international piracy". With a third vessel now being pursued, the geopolitical standoff in the Caribbean shows no sign of abating, posing continued risks to regional stability and global energy markets.
