American authorities have already seized two tankers this month, including one on Saturday. Maduro said Venezuela faces “an aggressive campaign of psychological terrorism and privateers who rob oil tankers.”
The US Coast Guard is “actively pursuing” this Sunday (12/21) an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, a US official told the BBC’s US partner CBS News, as tensions in the region continue to rise.
American authorities have already seized two tankers this month, including one on Saturday (20/12).
Sunday’s pursuit is believed to be linked to “a sanctioned Ghost Fleet vessel, which is part of Venezuela’s illegal attempt to circumvent sanctions,” a U.S. official said.
“It is sailing under a false flag and is the subject of a judicial seizure order.”
The United States has accused the ships leaving Venezuela of being part of a “ghost fleet” that allegedly uses various strategies to hide its activities.
According to Washington, these ships are part of the networks used by Nicolas Maduro’s government to transport oil to the international market, despite restrictions, often involving reflagging, shutdown of tracking systems and transfers of goods on the high seas.
This Sunday, without even mentioning the third American action, the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, declared that the country was facing “an aggressive campaign of psychological terrorism and privateers who stole oil tankers.”
“We are ready to accelerate the march of the profound revolution,” Maduro said.
“Total confinement”
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday ordered a “total blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
The country – home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves – has accused the Trump administration of trying to steal its resources.
U.S. authorities have not yet officially confirmed Sunday’s pursuit, and the exact location and name of the tanker involved are not yet known.
As of last week, more than 30 of 80 ships in Venezuelan waters or en route to the country were under U.S. sanctions, according to data compiled by TankerTrackers.com.
Saturday’s seizure involved a Panama-flagged oil tanker approached by a tactical team specializing in international waters.
The ship is not on the U.S. Treasury’s list of sanctions, but Washington said it was carrying “oil sanctioned by PDVSA,” Venezuela’s state oil company.
For the past five years, the ship has also sailed under the flags of Greece and Liberia, according to records reviewed by BBC Verify.
“These acts will not go unpunished,” the Venezuelan government said in response to Saturday’s incident. He added that he intended to lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council and “other multilateral bodies and governments around the world.”
Venezuela relies heavily on revenues from its oil exports to finance public spending.
In recent weeks, the United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea and carried out deadly attacks on suspected Venezuelan drug trafficking boats, killing around 100 people.
The U.S. government has not publicly presented evidence that these ships were carrying drugs, and the military has faced increasing scrutiny from Congress in the wake of the attacks.
The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a designated terrorist organization called the Cartel de los Soles, which he denies.
About The Author
