The United States is interdicting and seizing a vessel in international waters off Venezuela, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Saturday, days after President Donald Trump announced what he called a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the South American nation.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not specify where the operation was taking place and said the U.S. Coast Guard was leading the action, Reuters reported. The Coast Guard and the Pentagon referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond, according to Reuters. Venezuela’s oil ministry and state oil company PDVSA also did not immediately reply to requests for comment.
Trump said Tuesday he was ordering “a total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela, Reuters reported. Since U.S. forces seized a sanctioned tanker last week, loaded ships carrying millions of barrels of oil have remained in Venezuelan waters rather than risk seizure, Reuters reported, adding that Venezuelan crude exports have fallen sharply.
China is the biggest buyer of Venezuelan crude, accounting for roughly 4% of its imports, with December shipments on track to average more than 600,000 barrels per day, analysts told Reuters.
Of more than 70 shadow-fleet tankers in Venezuelan waters, about 38 are under U.S. Treasury sanctions, TankerTrackers.com data showed, cited by Reuters.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has alleged the U.S. military build-up is aimed at overthrowing him and seizing control of the country’s oil resources, Reuters reported.
