U.S. Intercepts Another Vessel Near Venezuela as Tensions Escalate

The United States has intercepted another vessel in international waters near Venezuela, U.S. officials told Reuters on Sunday, continuing a recent series of maritime actions that have heightened tensions in the Caribbean region.

According to the officials, the U.S. Coast Guard is actively pursuing a sanctioned oil tanker believed to be part of a “dark fleet” operating to help Venezuela evade U.S. sanctions. While the name of the vessel has not been confirmed by authorities, maritime tracking services identified the ship as the Bella 1, a very large crude carrier previously linked to sanctioned oil trades.

This development marks what would be the third interception or pursuit of a tanker by U.S. forces near Venezuelan waters in less than two weeks. The sequence follows earlier actions this month, including the seizure of the Skipper, a sanctioned tanker seized on December 10, and another vessel detained over the weekend.

The U.S. government has said it is enforcing a “blockade” on vessels under sanctions that are entering or leaving Venezuela, part of a broader strategy to pressure President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Officials argue these maritime operations target illegal sanctions evasion and restrict the transport of Venezuelan oil through covert networks.

The pace of these actions has potential implications for global oil markets and Venezuela’s economy, which relies heavily on crude exports. Analysts suggest continued U.S. enforcement could reduce Venezuela’s export volumes and strain storage capacity, as fewer tankers are able to move cargoes.