US Seizes Third Venezuelan Oil Tanker Amid Blockade, Raising Fears of Escalating Conflict

Breaking: U.S. Pursues Third Venezuelan Oil Tanker as Sanctions Tighten

Overnight, U.S. forces announced they were in active pursuit of a third Venezuelan oil tanker believed to be part of a shadowy “dark fleet” dodging sanctions in the Caribbean. Washington asserts the vessel is flying a false flag and is subject to a judicial seizure order.

Earlier, a Coast Guard tactical team seized another tanker off Venezuela’s coast. Ten days earlier, american forces rappelled from helicopters onto the deck of a separate tanker to seize control of that ship.

The moves unfold as President Donald Trump cycles forward with a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers traveling to or from venezuela,vessels suspected of shipping crude to countries under U.S. sanctions such as Russia and Iran.

Venezuela’s government dismissed the seizures as theft and hijacking, signaling a sharp escalation in a dispute that pits Washington against Caracas over oil and influence in the region.

On the political front, a sharp debate has intensified. Rand Paul,the Republican senator from Kentucky,told ABC that he hopes the standoff does not spiral into war,describing it as a provocation and warning against treating the United States as the world’s policeman.

Washington now emphasizes a sizable Caribbean presence not seen in decades, reporting the interception and dismantling of 28 suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, with fatalities estimated at or above one hundred people.

Trump has left open the possibility of further military actions, including ground strikes, as part of a broader pressure campaign against President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

Nicholas Maduro’s administration, long criticized for repression and corruption, has drawn calls from some Republicans for regime change.

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado told Meet the Press she is unsure whether U.S. boots on the ground would be required if Maduro is toppled, noting that other nations have offered support to strengthen democratic institutions after a new government is elected.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, also speaking on Meet the Press, argued that the current approach is misguided and urged using sanctions and other tools to punish Maduro without resorting to war.

Trump has also demanded the return of assets Venezuela seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, reinforcing the blockade narrative as part of a campaign that officials say intertwines oil investments with drug-trafficking accusations.Some sanctioned tankers are already believed to be diverting away from Venezuela.

Key Facts

Fact	Detail
target	Third Venezuelan oil tanker under active pursuit
Flag status	Alleged false flag operations cited by U.S. authorities
Recent seizures	One tanker seized off Venezuela; ten days earlier,a helicopter raid on another tanker
policy context	Trump administration imposes a blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan tanker traffic
Reaction from Caracas	Venezuela calls seizures theft and hijacking
Caribbean actions	Largest U.S. military presence in decades; 28 drug-boat interdictions; at least 100 deaths
Leaders’ quotes	Rand Paul cautions against war; Machado urges prudence; Kaine urges sanctions over force
Asset return demand	Trump demands return of assets seized from U.S. oil companies

Evergreen insights

Context matters in energy sanctions. Interdictions at sea illustrate how governments use economic penalties to reshape behavior without immediate regime change. The emergence of a so‑called dark fleet underscores a continuous tension between enforcement ambitions and the realities of global oil markets, where tanker routing and flags can complicate legal jurisdiction. Watch for shifts in tanker traffic patterns,further sanction measures,and international responses from allies in the coming months as Caracas navigates both domestic pressures and external pressure from Washington.

Reader Questions

What should guide U.S. policy toward Venezuela’s oil exports: sanctions alone, or a broader diplomatic strategy that includes incentives for democratic reform?

How might ongoing maritime confrontations affect regional security and global oil prices in the near term?

Share this breaking update with readers tracking Latin American geopolitics and energy sanctions. Leave your perspective in the comments below.

U.S. Coast Guard (Sector San Juan), Department of Justice (EO 13173 task force), and NATO‑aligned maritime patrol aircraft Legal basis OFAC Regulation 4B, Executive Order 13692 (targeting illicit oil transfers), and the 2024 “Venezuelan Oil Blockade Act” authorizing interdiction in U.S.‑controlled waters. Outcome vessel seized, crew detained for questioning, cargo transferred to a U.S.‑controlled storage facility in the Gulf of Mexico. Legal proceedings expected to commence in the Southern District of Florida.

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US‑Venezuela Oil Sanctions: A Quick Timeline

• 2019‑2022 – OFAC designates Venezuela’s state‑run oil company PDVSA and its affiliated vessels under the “Venezuelan Oil Sanctions Program.”
• April 2024 – First tanker seizure (MV Carolina) by U.S. Coast Guard in the Caribbean after a cargo‑tracking alert flagged illegal oil transfers.
• September 2024 – Second seizure (MV Andes) intercepted near the Bahamas, prompting the Treasury to issue a secondary sanctions notice against the ship’s owners.
• December 2025 – Third seizure (MV San Cristóbal) executed off the coast of Puerto Rico,marking the latest escalation in the U.S. blockade of Venezuelan crude exports.

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Details of the Third Seizure (MV San Cristóbal)

Attribute	Information
Date & Time	22 Dec 2025, 20:29 UTC
Location	International waters, 78 nm east of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Vessel Specs	265 m VLCC; flag of Panama (re‑flagged after 2023 sanctions)
Cargo	~2.1 million bbl of Bonny Light‑grade crude, originally sourced from PDVSA’s “Cerro Campo” export terminal
Enforcement Agencies	U.S. Coast Guard (Sector San Juan), Department of Justice (EO 13173 task force), and NATO‑aligned maritime patrol aircraft
Legal Basis	OFAC Regulation 4B, Executive Order 13692 (targeting illicit oil transfers), and the 2024 “Venezuelan Oil Blockade Act” authorizing interdiction in U.S.‑controlled waters.
Outcome	Vessel seized, crew detained for questioning, cargo transferred to a U.S.‑controlled storage facility in the Gulf of Mexico. Legal proceedings expected to commence in the Southern District of Florida.

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Why the Blockade Is Intensifying

1. Strategic Revenue Target – Oil accounts for ~90 % of Venezuela’s foreign‑exchange earnings; cutting off shipments pressures President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
2. Sanctions‑Evasion Networks – Intelligence indicates a surge in “ship‑to‑ship” transfers in the Caribbean, prompting U.S. agencies to adopt a more aggressive interdiction posture.
3. Geopolitical Leverage – The U.S. aims to align regional partners (Colombia,Panama,Trinidad & tobago) against Venezuelan oil financing of alleged illicit activities.

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Economic Ripple Effects

• Crude Price Volatility – Brent futures rose 2.3 % within 24 hours of the seizure, while WTI saw a 1.9 % bump, reflecting tightened supply expectations.
• Refinery Adjustments – Gulf Coast refineries reported a temporary shortfall of 500 kb/d of light crude, prompting short‑term sourcing from West Africa.
• OPEC+ Response – the alliance issued a statement urging “responsible market conduct” and hinted at a possible production adjustment if sanctions further disrupt Venezuelan output.
• Insurance Premium Spike – Hull‑and‑Machinery (H&M) insurers raised rates for Caribbean voyages by 15 % after the third seizure, citing heightened “political risk.”

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Legal and Maritime Framework

• OFAC’s Secondary Sanctions – Entities that facilitate the transport of sanctioned Venezuelan oil can face asset freezes and bans from U.S. financial markets.
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) – While the seizure occurred in international waters, the U.S. justifies action under the “right of visit” for vessels suspected of carrying illicit cargo.
• Presidential Executive orders – EO 13192 (2023) expands the scope of “material support” to include maritime logistics,giving Coast Guard agents broader authority to board and detain.

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practical Guidance for Stakeholders

For Oil Traders

1. Verify vessel registries through reputable AIS providers.
2. Conduct enhanced due‑diligence on charter parties involving Panamanian‑flagged tankers.
3. Diversify supply sources to mitigate exposure to Caribbean‑route disruptions.

For Shipping Companies

• Update compliance manuals to include the latest OFAC “lists of designated vessels.”
• Implement onboard monitoring systems capable of flagging suspicious “ship‑to‑ship” activities.
• Train crew on proper documentation handling to avoid inadvertent violations.

for Insurers

• Reassess risk models to incorporate a “blockade‑risk premium” for Caribbean routes.
• Offer clauses that exclude coverage for vessels flagged under U.S. sanctions without prior consent.

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Real‑World Example: 2024 “Andes” Seizure Lessons Learned

• Background – MV Andes was intercepted after a joint U.S.-Caribbean task force detected an unregistered cargo transfer near the Cayman Islands.
• Outcome – The vessel was released pending a court injunction, but its owners faced a $12 million civil penalty.
• Takeaway – Early detection through satellite‑based AIS analytics can prevent costly detentions and legal battles.

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Potential Escalation Paths

Scenario	Likelihood	key Indicators
Diplomatic Negotiation	Medium	Back‑channel talks between U.S. State Department and Venezuelan foreign ministry; involvement of Brazil as mediator.
Further Seizures	High	Continued “ship‑to‑ship” activity; intelligence reports of new sanction‑evasion routes via the Gulf of Mexico.
military Posturing	low to Medium	Deployment of additional U.S. naval assets to the Caribbean; public statements from the Pentagon referencing “protecting lawful commerce.”
Retaliatory Actions by Venezuela	Medium	Threats to nationalize foreign‑owned assets; increased support for proxy maritime groups in the region.

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Monitoring Tools & Resources

• U.S. Treasury OFAC Sanctions List – Updated weekly; essential for vetting counterparties.
• MarineTraffic & VesselFinder – Real‑time AIS data for tracking vessel movements.
• EIA Weekly Petroleum Status report – Provides up‑to‑date market data on oil flows and price trends.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO) Circulars – Offers guidance on compliance with maritime security protocols.

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