The United States has seized another oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea, intensifying its enforcement of sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports. The vessel, named Veronica, was detained without resistance during an early-morning operation, US officials said.
According to the US Southern Command, the tanker was operating in violation of restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on sanctioned vessels. In a statement, the command said any oil exports from Venezuela must follow lawful procedures approved by the United States.
British news agency Reuters reported that the seizure occurred shortly before a scheduled meeting between Donald Trump and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. US officials described the timing as significant amid Washington’s broader strategy toward Venezuela.
This marks the sixth seizure of a vessel involved in transporting Venezuelan oil since mid-December, US authorities said. The Veronica, an Aframax-class tanker sailing under the Guyanese flag, reportedly left Venezuelan waters empty in early January and did not return.
US officials said the action is part of a wider effort to regulate Venezuela’s oil exports following the removal of former President Nicolás Maduro from power. The Trump administration has outlined a long-term plan, estimated at nearly $100 billion, aimed at restructuring Venezuela’s collapsed energy sector and establishing sustained oversight of its oil resources.
Washington is also seeking court approval to seize additional tankers connected to Venezuelan oil trade. Many of these vessels are accused of operating as part of a so-called “shadow fleet,” using false or expired flags to bypass international sanctions.
The latest move comes amid cautious US engagement with Venezuela’s political transition. While Trump has publicly praised Machado as a “freedom fighter,” US intelligence agencies have warned that sudden political changes could trigger renewed instability in the oil-rich nation.
