Over the weekend, the United States conducted operations in the Caribbean Sea by intercepting two oil tankers near Venezuela’s coast, causing concern among other Latin American nations and prompting preparations for potential land strikes. The U.S. Coast Guard boarded a vessel named Centuries on Saturday and pursued another vessel, Bella 1, on Sunday, which managed to evade capture and remains in motion.
The U.S. identified Centuries as part of a “dark fleet” engaged in illicit activities that fund narcoterrorism. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, revealed that the pursuit of Bella 1 on Sunday targeted a sanctioned vessel involved in Venezuela’s efforts to evade sanctions.
These interceptions are part of a broader U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, which has also involved targeting numerous smaller boats suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in the deaths of over 100 individuals onboard.
President Donald Trump recently convened a meeting with key national security officials in Florida, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Navy Secretary John Phelan, as part of a sustained pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The campaign initially focused on combating illegal drug flows from Venezuela but has evolved into a broader initiative.
Following the seizure of the oil tanker Skipper in December, which was transporting Venezuelan crude and had previously carried Iranian oil in violation of U.S. sanctions, Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.
China, the largest purchaser of Venezuelan crude, expressed concern over the U.S.’s actions, labeling the seizure of foreign ships as a breach of international law. The Venezuelan government decried the interception of the tankers as a “serious act of international piracy.”
Additionally, other countries have responded to the situation, with Russia evacuating diplomatic families from Venezuela, and leaders like Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum calling for restraint and expressing worries over potential armed interventions in Venezuela. Lula da Silva likened the U.S.’s actions to historical conflicts, emphasizing the potential risks of external military involvement in South America.