This week, U.S. forces captured another oil tanker in the Caribbean, marking the seventh vessel seized under President Trump’s strict measures against illicit oil trade from Venezuela. Southcom confirmed that the tanker was operating in direct violation of the quarantine established by the Trump administration. “The apprehension of another tanker operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully,” Southcom stated on Tuesday. This action underscores the administration’s commitment to enforcing American policies in the region.
The tanker, named Veronica, was previously part of a so-called ghost fleet. It was taken by U.S. forces last week, part of a broader initiative aimed at halting the flow of illegal oil from Venezuela. This initiative follows President Trump’s order instituting a full blockade on all sanctioned tankers going to and from Venezuelan ports, which he issued last month amid escalating tensions and a critical operation resulting in the capture of Nicolas Maduro.
Trump’s comments reflect a tough, unyielding attitude toward what he refers to as the “illegitimate Maduro Regime.” The regime’s utilization of oil from “stolen oil fields” to fund activities such as drug terrorism, human trafficking, and various forms of violence has been a focal point of U.S. accusations. “The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using oil from these stolen oil fields to finance themselves, drug terrorism, murder, and kidnapping,” Trump stated forcefully. His stance has not only branded the Venezuelan government as a foreign terrorist organization but has led to direct military actions aimed at protecting American interests.
Furthermore, Trump emphasized that Venezuela must return its resources, which he sees as stolen from the United States. “America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation,” he declared. This statement encapsulates the administration’s approach—combining military might with a resolve to reclaim national assets and secure borders against threats perceived to come from the Maduro regime.
In a testament to this hardline policy, President Trump announced last week that Venezuela would transfer up to 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S., to be sold at market price. This move signals a shift in oil market dynamics and reinforces the momentum of U.S. operations in the region. Following the capture of Maduro by Delta Force, there is a commanding focus on establishing control over Venezuela’s oil exports, which have become instruments of leverage in restoring U.S. influence.
Overall, the ongoing U.S. military operations and Trump’s clear articulations of policy illustrate a strategic endeavor to dismantle the networks sustaining the Maduro regime. The seizure of oil tankers is a direct counteraction to a regime accused of numerous crimes, aligning military objectives with the broader goals of national resource recovery and security.
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