A U.S. Coast Guard vessel chased a sanctioned tanker in the Caribbean on Sunday, marking the latest in a series of actions aimed at curbing Venezuela-linked shipping. The pursuit followed a Saturday predawn seizure of the Panama-flagged vessel Centuries, which the White House described as a “falsely flagged vessel operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil.” The operation was confirmed by a U.S. official briefed on the mission, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Coast Guard Operation
The anonymous official said the vessel was a “sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion.” He added that the tanker was flying a false flag and was subject to a judicial seizure order. The Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the Coast Guard, deferred questions about the operation to the White House, which offered no comment.
The Coast Guard, assisted by the Navy, had previously seized the tanker Skipper on Dec. 10. Skipper was another part of the shadow fleet that the U.S. says operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo. It was not even flying a nation’s flag when it was taken.
Trump’s “Blockade” and Rising Rhetoric
After the Skipper seizure, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would carry out a “blockade” of Venezuela. He has repeatedly said that Maduro’s days in power are numbered and has demanded that Venezuela return assets seized from U.S. oil companies years ago. Trump’s statements come as the administration has ordered the Defense Department to conduct attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that it alleges are smuggling fentanyl and other illegal drugs.
At least 104 people have been killed in 28 known strikes since early September. The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and that the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings.
Maduro’s Response and International Backlash
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responded on Telegram, saying his country has spent months “denouncing, challenging and defeating a campaign of aggression that goes from psychological terrorism to corsairs attacking oil tankers.” He added, “We are ready to accelerate the pace of our deep revolution!”
Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., criticized Trump’s policy, calling the tanker seizures a “provocation and a prelude to war.” “Look, at any point in time, there are 20, 30 governments around the world that we don’t like that are either socialist or communist or have human rights violations,” Paul said on ABC’s “This Week.” “But it isn’t the job of the American soldier to be the policeman of the world.”
Congressional Concerns
Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that Trump’s use of the military to pressure Maduro runs contrary to his pledge to keep the United States out of unnecessary wars. Democrats have been pressing Trump to seek congressional authorization for the military action in the Caribbean. “We should be using sanctions and other tools at our disposal to punish this dictator who is violating the human rights of his civilians and has run the Venezuelan economy into the ground,” Kaine said. “But I’ll tell you, we should not be waging war against Venezuela. We definitely should not be waging war without a vote of Congress.”
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in an interview with Vanity Fair that Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.” The remarks illustrate the administration’s hard-line stance amid escalating tensions.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Coast Guard pursued a sanctioned Venezuelan tanker in the Caribbean, following the seizure of Centuries and Skipper.
- President Trump has declared a “blockade” of Venezuela and ordered attacks on suspected drug-smuggling vessels.
- Maduro and U.S. lawmakers have criticized the U.S. actions, raising concerns about legality and potential war escalation.
The series of seizures and military actions underscores a sharp rise in U.S. pressure on Venezuela, as the Trump administration seeks to enforce sanctions and counter what it sees as illicit oil trafficking and drug smuggling. The situation remains volatile, with congressional debate and international scrutiny shaping the next steps in this high-stakes confrontation.
