The Trump administration has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters on Wednesday, marking a sharp escalation as Washington turns up the pressure on the Maduro regime.
The interdiction comes as the United States carries out a sweeping military build-up in the region, deploying an aircraft carrier, fighter jets, and tens of thousands of troops in a show of force aimed at deterring hostile actors and enforcing U.S. policy.
The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the operation was carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard. They declined to name the tanker and did not specify the exact location of the seizure.
The Coast Guard referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Venezuelan government also did not respond to requests for comment.
The move signals a tougher line from Washington after months of mounting pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, even as the administration had largely avoided disrupting the country’s oil flows.
Venezuela exported more than 900,000 barrels per day of oil last month, its third-highest monthly average this year. The surge was driven by increased imports of naphtha by state-run oil giant PDVSA, allowing it to dilute and ship its extra-heavy crude.
Oil exports remain Venezuela’s primary source of revenue, but the country is struggling to sell its crude at full price. China, the main destination for Venezuelan oil, has used competition from heavily discounted and sanctioned oil from Russia and Iran to push prices down.
Until now, Washington had refrained from directly interfering with Venezuela’s exports, despite tightening sanctions and rising diplomatic pressure. The tanker seizure suggests that restraint may be over, signaling that enforcement, not accommodation, is now the order of the day.
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