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Amid an intensifying US blockade policy, American forces are now openly pursuing sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela—an operation cloaked in legality, but reeking of imperial assertiveness.
On Sunday, 21 December, US officials confirmed what they referred to as an “active pursuit” of an oil tanker operating in international waters just off the Venezuelan coast—marking the third such interception attempt in a week. The vessel, reportedly named Bella 1, has been under US sanctions since 2024 due to alleged ties with Iran and Hezbollah.
The US Coast Guard, acting under judicial seizure orders, attempted to board the vessel over the weekend. But according to reports from the New York Times and Reuters, the Bella 1 refused to comply, continuing on its course toward Venezuela.
The tanker, according to the tracking platform TankerTrackers, was empty—en route to the Venezuelan coast, likely for loading crude, though US sources claim its voyage was part of a broader sanctions-evasion network.
From sanctions to seizures: Washington’s creeping aggression
President Donald Trump’s so-called “blockade” strategy—announced earlier this month—has shifted from rhetoric to enforcement. At least three tankers have been intercepted, two seized, and the US Navy now maintains its most formidable presence in the Caribbean in over 30 years.
The rationale? To cut off Venezuela’s oil exports, particularly those routed to Asia via what Washington terms the “dark fleet”—a network of unregistered or reflagged tankers accused of circumventing international sanctions.
Kevin Hassett, Trump’s economic adviser, claimed on CBS that these vessels “were black market ships” and dismissed concerns about global oil price volatility. But the market may disagree. An oil trader told Reuters that Asian oil markets are expected to react sharply when they open on Monday.
Open conflict on the horizon?
The language from Washington is no longer diplomatic. Republican Senator James Lankford openly endorsed regime change on CNN, stating that Nicolás Maduro is “not the recognized leader of Venezuela.”
The Venezuelan government, unsurprisingly, condemned the seizures as “blatant theft” and “international piracy.” Meanwhile, Maduro has instructed his navy to begin escorting incoming tankers—a move that could trigger direct naval confrontation.
In an interview with NBC News, Trump refused to rule out military conflict with Venezuela, stating plainly: “I don’t rule it out.”
Geopolitical flashpoint or theatre of provocation?
The Bella 1 incident is more than a game of maritime cat-and-mouse. It is the tip of a spear aimed at reasserting US control over what it still considers its traditional sphere of influence.
But the question looms: how long before a miscalculation ignites war in the Caribbean? In a global energy market already strained by geopolitical instability, this aggressive US Coast Guard activity near Venezuela’s oil lifeline adds another powder keg to the map.
