The US military conducted a pre-dawn operation to seize the crude oil tanker "Veronica" in the Caribbean Sea. The action was announced by the US Southern Command, with officials stating it was part of efforts to enforce sanctions against Venezuela and its oil industry, targeting vessels operating in defiance of a "quarantine" of sanctioned ships. This seizure marks the sixth known boarding of a foreign-flagged oil tanker by the US military in connection with these sanctions.
The Seizure Operation
The US military seized the crude oil tanker "Veronica" in a pre-dawn operation in the Caribbean Sea. The US Southern Command reported that forces launched from the USS Gerald R Ford and apprehended the vessel "without incident." US officials described the "Veronica" as the latest tanker operating in defiance of President Donald Trump's stated "quarantine" of sanctioned vessels in the region and cited it as proof of the effectiveness of "Operation Southern Spear."
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the action, stating it was carried out with "close coordination" among military, state, and justice departments and "in accordance with international law." The precise location of the operation was not disclosed.
Official Justification and Context
The US Southern Command indicated the seizure supported President Donald Trump’s sanctions against Venezuela. The US Department of Defense has stated its mission is to address "illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere." Secretary Noem characterized the vessel as part of a "ghost fleet" operating in defiance of the president’s "quarantine." The Southern Command also affirmed that "The only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully." The US asserts that Venezuela utilizes false-flag tankers or vessels with canceled registrations to disguise its oil operations.
Vessel Details
The "Veronica" is an 815-foot crude oil tanker. Marine records and officials stated it was sailing under a Guyanese flag. Monitoring service TankerTrackers.com and shipping documents cited by Reuters indicated the vessel departed empty from Venezuelan waters in early January. The International Maritime Organization’s database shows the vessel was previously registered in Russia under different names. Marinetraffic.com recorded the vessel's last known position 12 days prior to the seizure, off the coast of Venezuela.
Broader Sanctions and Economic Impact
This seizure represents the sixth known boarding by the US military of a foreign-flagged oil tanker linked to the Venezuelan oil industry under the current US policy. Previous actions included the boarding of a vessel named Olina in the Caribbean Sea near Trinidad and the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera in the Atlantic. These vessels are often referred to by officials as part of a "dark fleet" operating to transport sanctioned oil.
The US is collaborating with Venezuela’s interim government to manage the country’s oil sales. The incident follows the US's first sale of Venezuelan oil, valued at $500 million. President Trump had previously encouraged oil executives to invest $100 billion in Venezuela’s energy infrastructure, though executives indicated that significant changes would be required to make such an investment appealing.
Shipping-analytics provider Kpler reported that crude oil loadings onto ships fell to approximately half of normal levels in January following ongoing US actions. As of January 13, Kpler estimated about 15.5 million barrels of crude oil were on 17 tankers in Venezuelan waters, not including ships already bound for the US.
Related Diplomatic and Political Developments
The latest tanker seizure occurred hours before President Trump was scheduled to meet with MarĂa Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader, at the White House. Trump had previously described Machado as a "freedom fighter" but indicated he would not appoint her to lead Venezuela after a potential removal of President Nicolás Maduro, citing a lack of domestic support.
President Trump has announced an agreement with Venezuela’s interim leaders to provide up to 50 million barrels of crude oil to the US. He also signed an executive order to safeguard Venezuelan oil revenues in US-controlled accounts. Politically, President Trump has recognized Delcy RodrĂguez, described as Maduro’s former vice-president, as Venezuela’s interim leader. Additionally, a Venezuelan government envoy, FĂ©lix Plasencia, was expected to travel to Washington to meet US officials and begin discussions regarding reopening the country’s embassy.