In a new escalation of its maximum pressure campaign against Venezuela, the United States Southern Command announced the seizure of a seventh oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea. The command stated that the vessel, named the Sagita, was intercepted and detained "without incident," adding that it was defying the sanctions imposed by the administration of former President Donald Trump on ships bound for or from Venezuela.
Background of the US embargo on Venezuela
This detention comes within the context of Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at ousting the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Since 2019, the United States has imposed a series of severe economic sanctions primarily targeting Venezuela’s oil sector, the lifeblood of the country’s economy. These sanctions have included a ban on Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, preventing it from doing business with U.S. entities, as well as targeting ships and companies that transport Venezuelan oil in defiance of the sanctions.
In December of the year preceding this incident, President Trump announced a de facto naval blockade, deploying a large US naval force to the Caribbean. Washington justified the deployment as a means to combat drug trafficking operations allegedly involving officials in the Maduro government, but the broader objective was clear: to completely cripple Venezuelan oil exports and cut off the government's revenue streams.
Importance and expected effects of the process
The seizure of the seventh tanker represents a clear political and military message from Washington that it is serious about enforcing its sanctions and preventing any attempt to circumvent them. Domestically, these actions exacerbate the economic and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, where the collapse of the oil sector has led to severe shortages of fuel and basic goods, directly impacting the daily lives of citizens.
Regionally, the US military buildup in the Caribbean has alarmed neighboring countries and heightened tensions in the region. Internationally, this policy has led to geopolitical confrontations, particularly with countries like Iran and Russia, which have attempted to circumvent the blockade by sending fuel tankers and aid to Venezuela, thus bringing global powers into direct confrontation in Caribbean waters. Washington insists that “the only oil that will leave Venezuela is that which is properly and legally coordinated,” indicating that any oil sales must be conducted under the supervision of the US-recognized authorities, not the Maduro government.
