In a dramatic escalation of its campaign against Venezuela’s oil smuggling operations, the US military has boarded a second tanker, the Veronica III, in the Indian Ocean. This operation follows the seizure of the Aquila II just a week prior, as American forces intensify their efforts to disrupt illicit oil exports linked to the Venezuelan regime.
A New Chapter in Naval Operations
The Pentagon reported on Sunday that US forces conducted a boarding of the Veronica III, a Panamanian-flagged vessel, after tracking it from the Caribbean Sea. This action comes on the heels of a significant military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. The Veronica III left Venezuela on the very day of Maduro’s apprehension, loaded with nearly two million barrels of crude oil and fuel.
According to the Pentagon’s statement on X, the vessel attempted to evade the quarantine imposed by then-President Donald Trump, which was designed to strangle the regime’s oil revenues. “The vessel tried to defy President Trump’s quarantine – hoping to slip away,” the statement read. “We tracked it from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, closed the distance, and shut it down.”
The Shadow Fleet of Venezuela
For years, Venezuela has relied on a fleet of ships with false flags to transport its oil, circumventing US sanctions that have crippled its economy. With Maduro’s government in a precarious position, the regime has been increasingly desperate to smuggle oil into global markets. The Pentagon’s actions are part of a broader strategy to assert control over these illicit operations, aiming to cut off the financial lifeline that fuels Maduro’s power.
Notably, TankerTrackers.com has reported that since 2023, the Veronica III has been linked with Iranian and Russian oil, highlighting the complex web of international alliances that Venezuela has forged in its survival against US sanctions. The website’s co-founder, Samir Madani, indicated that at least 16 tankers have fled the Venezuelan coast in recent weeks, defying the US-imposed quarantine.
The Consequences of Intervention
In a related development, last week the US military also boarded another tanker, the Aquila II, in the Indian Ocean. This vessel remains in limbo as US officials deliberate its future. The Pentagon has not clarified whether the Veronica III will be formally seized or returned to its owners, leaving a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the vessel’s fate.
The United States has ramped up efforts to exert control over Venezuela’s oil resources, a strategic move aimed at destabilising Maduro’s regime and limiting its global reach. As the situation unfolds, the implications of these military operations extend far beyond the immediate actions at sea.
Why it Matters
The US military’s boarding of the Veronica III underscores the strategic importance of Venezuelan oil in the current geopolitical landscape. As the US seeks to undermine the Maduro regime, the consequences of these interventions ripple through global markets and international relations. With Venezuela’s economy teetering on the brink, the stakes are high, and the international community watches closely as this oil conflict continues to unfold on the high seas.
