U.S. seizes seventh Venezuela-linked tanker under sanctions

Daniel Hanson

Summary

U.S. forces seized a Liberian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela, marking the seventh such operation under current sanctions enforcement.

Why this matters

The seizure highlights continuing U.S. efforts to control Venezuela's oil exports amid sanctions and broader geopolitical maneuvers in the region.

U.S. military forces boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker linked to Venezuela on Tuesday, continuing efforts by the Trump administration to restrict unauthorized oil exports from the country.

U.S. Southern Command said on social media that personnel apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta “without incident.” The command stated the ship was violating what it described as a presidential quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.

The Sagitta is flagged in Liberia and registered to a Hong Kong-based company. It last transmitted its location over two months ago while leaving the Baltic Sea.

The U.S. Treasury Department had previously sanctioned the Sagitta under an executive order tied to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Southern Command stated the vessel had taken oil from Venezuela and said the seizure underscored efforts to ensure Venezuelan oil exports are “coordinated properly and lawfully.” Aerial footage of the ship was released, though it did not include images of the boarding operation as seen in prior cases.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for additional information. Southern Command said it had no further comment.

The seizure is part of a broader campaign that began after U.S. forces removed President Nicolás Maduro from power in a Jan. 3 operation. Since then, the administration has aimed to manage Venezuelan oil production, refining, and distribution.

Officials have described the tanker seizures as a way to support Venezuela’s oil sector and economy. Trump met with oil executives two weeks ago to discuss potential investment of $100 billion in the country’s infrastructure and said the U.S. expected to market 30 million to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil.

On Tuesday, Trump told reporters the U.S. had already removed 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela.

“We’ve got millions of barrels of oil left,” Trump said at the White House. “We’re selling it on the open market. We’re bringing down oil prices incredibly.”

The first vessel was seized off the Venezuelan coast on Dec. 10. Most others were captured in nearby waters, except for the Bella 1, which was intercepted in the North Atlantic on Jan. 8 after changing course while nearing the Caribbean.

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