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U.S. Forces Board Third Sanctioned Oil Tanker in Indian Ocean Amid Venezuela Crackdown
U.S. military forces have intercepted and boarded a third sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. The vessel was tracked all the way from the Caribbean Sea as part of the ongoing American campaign targeting illicit oil linked to Venezuela.
According to TankerTrackers.com, the Bertha was the last remaining vessel from a group of 16 tankers that fled Venezuelan waters following the capture of the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. The organization, which uses satellite imagery and surface-level photographs to monitor vessel movements, reported that the Bertha was carrying approximately 1.9 million barrels of Merey 16 crude oil, a specific grade of Venezuelan petroleum.
U.S. Southern Command confirmed the operation in a statement posted on X, describing it as “a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding.” Military officials noted that the vessel was “operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean and attempted to evade.” The command emphasized the global reach of the operation, stating, “From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and stopped it.”
This boarding marks the tenth interdiction of an oil tanker conducted by the Trump administration since it began targeting vessels connected to Venezuela in December. While previous seizures occurred in the Caribbean or North Atlantic, this latest operation demonstrates the administration’s determination to pursue sanctions violators across international waters.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing operation, clarified that like the previous two Indian Ocean boardings, the Bertha was not formally seized but rather placed under U.S. control. The Department of Homeland Security and State Department will ultimately determine the vessel’s fate.
The Pentagon released video footage showing U.S. Navy helicopters launching from an unidentified ship and approaching the tanker during the operation.
Venezuela has faced stringent U.S. sanctions on its oil sector for several years, forcing the Maduro regime to rely on a shadow fleet of falsely flagged tankers to smuggle crude into global supply chains. According to shipping information system Equasis, the Bertha was originally flagged to the Cook Islands when it was placed under U.S. sanctions related to Iran. More recently, it operated under a false flag from the Caribbean island of Curaçao and was managed by a Chinese company.
President Trump ordered a quarantine of sanctioned tankers in December as part of a strategy to pressure Maduro, who was subsequently apprehended in early January during a U.S. military operation. The seizure of these tankers represents a critical component of the Republican administration’s broader efforts to gain control over Venezuela’s oil resources, which remain vital to the country’s economy despite years of mismanagement.
The international maritime pursuit highlights the complex networks of falsely registered vessels used to evade international sanctions. According to Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, the Bertha has previously received Iranian crude from other vessels via ship-to-ship transfers for deliveries to China, demonstrating how sanctioned nations collaborate to circumvent international restrictions.
Following Maduro’s capture, he was extradited to the United States to face serious charges of collaboration with drug cartels, allegedly facilitating the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. Maduro has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
The Pentagon declined to provide additional details beyond Southern Command’s public statement about the boarding operation, maintaining operational security around the ongoing mission.
This latest interdiction underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing sanctions against Venezuela’s oil industry and disrupting the financial networks supporting the Maduro regime, even as the political situation in the South American nation remains unstable following the leader’s capture.
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20 Comments
The US seems determined to cut off Venezuela’s oil revenue at all costs, even if it means using military force to board and seize tankers. This aggressive approach could have unintended consequences that are worth considering.
Absolutely. The US needs to be mindful of the broader geopolitical implications of its actions and ensure that its efforts to target Venezuela’s oil trade don’t escalate into a larger conflict.
This latest interception of a sanctioned oil tanker highlights the US government’s determination to disrupt Venezuela’s oil exports, even in international waters. The broader implications of these actions merit careful consideration.
You make a fair point. The US appears to be taking an increasingly aggressive approach, and it will be crucial to understand how this could affect regional stability and international relations.
It’s concerning to see the US military taking such assertive actions against a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean. This escalation of the Venezuela crisis could have significant regional and global repercussions.
You raise a valid point. The US crackdown on Venezuela’s oil exports is putting strain on international relations and could potentially lead to further tensions in the region.
The US military’s boarding of a third sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean is a significant escalation in the ongoing crackdown on Venezuela’s oil trade. This move could have far-reaching implications that extend beyond just the Venezuela situation and deserve close scrutiny.
Absolutely, this is a complex geopolitical issue that requires careful analysis. The US actions could potentially raise concerns about overreach and the risk of unintended consequences that need to be carefully considered.
This latest interception of a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean highlights the global reach of the US campaign against Venezuela’s oil exports. It will be interesting to see how other countries respond to these assertive actions.
You’re right, the US is demonstrating its ability to track and intercept vessels across vast distances. This could raise concerns among other nations about potential overreach or abuse of power.
The US military’s boarding of a third sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean is a significant escalation in the ongoing crackdown on Venezuela’s oil trade. This move could have far-reaching implications that extend beyond just the Venezuela situation.
Absolutely, this is a complex geopolitical issue that requires careful analysis. The US actions could potentially raise concerns about overreach and the risk of unintended consequences.
This latest interception of a sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean demonstrates the US government’s determination to disrupt Venezuela’s oil exports, even in international waters. The broader implications of these actions merit close attention.
You’re right, the US is clearly taking an assertive approach here. It will be important to monitor how this situation evolves and how other countries react to these aggressive actions by the US military.
Interesting move by the US military to intercept another sanctioned oil tanker. This seems to be part of an ongoing crackdown on Venezuela’s oil exports. I wonder what the broader geopolitical implications of these actions might be.
Yes, the US is clearly taking a hardline stance against Venezuela’s authoritarian regime and its illicit oil trade. It will be important to see how this plays out on the global stage.
The US military’s boarding of a third sanctioned oil tanker in the Indian Ocean is a significant escalation in the ongoing crackdown on Venezuela’s oil trade. It remains to be seen how this will impact regional and global dynamics.
Exactly, this move by the US could have far-reaching consequences that extend beyond just the Venezuela situation. It’s a complex issue that bears close monitoring.
The US seems determined to enforce its sanctions on Venezuela’s oil exports, even going to the lengths of tracking and boarding tankers in international waters. This highlights the far-reaching impact of these sanctions.
Indeed, the US is demonstrating its willingness to project military power to disrupt Venezuela’s oil trade. It remains to be seen how other countries will respond to these aggressive actions.