At a Glance
- U.S. Coast Guard stops Panama-flagged tanker Centuries off Venezuela’s coast.
- The seizure follows a “blockade” pledge and a prior capture of the tanker Skipper on Dec. 10.
- Venezuelan officials brand the action a “criminal hijacking” and vow UN-level retaliation.
Why it matters: The U.S. escalates pressure on Maduro, raising tensions over sanctioned oil and narco-terrorism funding.
A pre-dawn U.S. operation halted the Panama-flagged tanker Centuries off Venezuela’s coast, marking the second seizure in less than two weeks. The move comes after President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers to and from the South American nation. The incident underscores growing U.S.-Venezuelan friction over oil sanctions and alleged narco-terrorism.
Operation Seizes Venezuelan-Flagged Tanker
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard, assisted by the Defense Department, intercepted the vessel that had last docked in Venezuela. She shared an unclassified video of a U.S. helicopter landing personnel on the Centuries. The tanker, registered under Panama’s flag, was spotted near the Venezuelan coast by MarineTraffic, though its sanction status remains unclear.
- Vessel: Centuries
- Flag: Panama
- Last docked: Venezuela
- Status: Voluntary boarding
- Sanctions: Uncertain
Reactions and Context
The seizure was described as a “consented boarding,” with the tanker allowing U.S. forces to board. The action follows the earlier seizure of the Skipper, a known shadow-fleet tanker that operated without a flag. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly asserted that the Centuries was a falsely flagged vessel part of a Venezuelan shadow fleet carrying sanctioned oil.
**Kristi Noem stated:
> “The United States will continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region. We will find you, and we will stop you.”
Anna Kelly posted:
> “The Centuries was a similarly “falsely flagged vessel operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil” and that the oil it was carrying was sanctioned.”
Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano said:
> “Everything indicates that she is a properly registered vessel.”
Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano added:
> “This one is meant to scare other tankers away.”
Dr. Salvatore Mercogliano noted:
> “A big escalation.”
Venezuelan Government released:
> “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela categorically denounces and rejects the theft and hijacking of another private vessel transporting Venezuelan oil, as well as the enforced disappearance of its crew, perpetrated by United States military personnel in international waters.”
President Donald Trump told reporters:
> “We’re not going to be letting anybody going through who shouldn’t be going through. You remember they took all of our energy rights. They took all of our oil not that long ago. And we want it back. They took it – they illegally took it.”
Susie Wiles said:
> “Trump wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.”
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vessel | Centuries |
| Flag | Panama |
| Last docked | Venezuela |
| Boarding type | Consented |
| Sanctions status | Uncertain |
Venezuela’s statement calls the U.S. action a criminal hijack and signals potential UN Security Council complaints.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. Coast Guard stops Panama-flagged tanker Centuries for a second seizure in 14 days.
- The move follows Trump’s blockade pledge and the earlier Skipper** capture.
- Venezuelan officials condemn the action as a hijack and threaten UN-level retaliation.
The incident illustrates the mounting tensions between the United States and Venezuela over oil sanctions, narco-terrorism allegations, and the broader U.S. strategy to pressure Maduro. The latest seizure may prompt further legal and diplomatic confrontations.
Morgan J. Carter reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Morgan J. Carter contributed to this report.
