In a development that adds a new dimension to recent geopolitical tensions, an oil tanker was seized by U.S. authorities off the coast of Venezuela. According to a report by Axios, this vessel was transporting crude oil destined for Cuba.
The tanker was reportedly part of an illicit network dealing in sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran, supplying Cuba in defiance of U.S. sanctions. This revelation underscores the complex web of international affairs involving these nations.
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi confirmed that the operation was carried out by a coalition of federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Coast Guard, with backing from the Department of Defense.
Bondi elaborated that the ship had long been under sanctions due to its involvement in illegal oil transport linked to the funding of terrorist organizations. The seizure was conducted “safely and without incident,” with ongoing investigations by the Department of Homeland Security aimed at curtailing the sanctioned oil trade in the region.
According to Axios, the vessel is a VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) with a capacity of over 320,000 tons of crude. It was intercepted en route to Cuban ports. The report highlights that the oil was part of a scheme where Cuba resells Venezuelan oil on the black market, primarily to Asia and China, allegedly involving relatives of Raúl Castro.
President Donald Trump hailed the operation as a significant victory, describing it as the capture of “the largest oil tanker ever seized,” highlighting the ship's substantial size.
Sources cited by Axios described the operation as a “double blow” against both Nicolás Maduro's financial interests and the Cuban regime that supports him. U.S. Congressman Carlos Giménez praised the effectiveness of the Trump administration's measures, stating, “We are witnessing the results of our efforts: concrete actions. Enough of the Cartel of the Suns in Venezuela sending oil to the murderous dictatorship in Cuba, which then resells that gasoline at exorbitant prices to the Cuban people!”
This seizure coincides with intensified military and diplomatic pressure from Washington in the Caribbean, marking one of the most impactful actions against the energy network connecting Caracas and Havana. It reinforces the White House's strategy to sever the financial and logistical lifelines sustaining these sanctioned regimes.
Impact of U.S. Sanctions on Venezuelan and Cuban Oil Trade
What was the purpose of the seized oil tanker?
The seized oil tanker was transporting crude oil intended for Cuba, as part of an illegal network supplying sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
Who conducted the operation to seize the oil tanker?
The operation was carried out by the FBI, HSI, and the U.S. Coast Guard, with assistance from the Department of Defense.
How does this seizure affect the relationship between the U.S., Cuba, and Venezuela?
The seizure adds pressure on both the Cuban and Venezuelan regimes by disrupting their energy network and financial flows, further straining their relationship with the U.S.