Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jan 21: U.S. military forces on Tuesday boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker linked to Venezuela, intensifying the Trump administration’s efforts to regulate and control the flow of Venezuelan oil amid ongoing sanctions.
According to a social media post by U.S. Southern Command, American forces apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta without incident in the Caribbean, stating that the tanker was operating in violation of President Donald Trump’s “established quarantine of sanctioned vessels” in the region. However, officials did not clarify whether the U.S. Coast Guard formally took custody of the vessel, as has occurred in previous seizures.
The Sagitta, a Liberian-flagged tanker owned and managed by a Hong Kong-based company, had last transmitted its location more than two months ago while exiting the Baltic Sea in northern Europe. The ship is under U.S. Treasury sanctions imposed under an executive order linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
U.S. Southern Command said the tanker had taken oil from Venezuela and asserted that the seizure reflects Washington’s resolve to ensure that Venezuelan oil exports are conducted “properly and lawfully.” Aerial footage released by the command showed the vessel sailing at sea, though it did not depict troops boarding the ship.
The latest seizure comes amid a broader U.S. campaign targeting oil tankers connected to Venezuela. Since December 10, at least seven such vessels have been intercepted, most in waters near Venezuela. One tanker, Bella 1, was captured in the North Atlantic earlier this month after abruptly changing course while nearing the Caribbean.
Following the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise operation on January 3, the Trump administration has moved to take control of Venezuela’s oil production, refining and global distribution. Officials have indicated that seizing tankers is a way to generate revenue to help revive the country’s struggling oil industry.
President Trump recently said the U.S. has already taken around 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela and is selling it on the open market, claiming the move has helped bring down global oil prices. He also met oil industry executives earlier this month to discuss plans to invest up to $100 billion in rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure.
The seizure of the Sagitta underscores the heightened U.S. military and economic involvement in enforcing sanctions and reshaping Venezuela’s oil trade in the Caribbean.