WILLEMSTAD – U.S. military forces have seized another oil tanker connected to Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea, marking the seventh such interception since Washington began aggressively enforcing a blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan vessels late last year. The move underscores growing geopolitical tensions over control of Venezuelan oil exports and highlights an evolving shift in crude flows toward Caribbean storage and transshipment hubs — including facilities in Curaçao.
According to the U.S. Southern Command, the Motor Vessel Sagitta was apprehended “without incident” while operating in defiance of a U.S.-declared quarantine on sanctioned tankers in the Caribbean. The vessel is among several that U.S. authorities allege have been involved in transporting Venezuelan crude outside of approved trade channels.
Since the enforcement began in December, the United States has intensified efforts to control Venezuela’s oil output, which has long been central to the South American nation’s economy. The latest seizure forms part of a broader strategy tied to U.S. moves following the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with Washington seeking to manage Venezuela’s oil exports and secure supply chains.
Analysts tracking maritime movements note that while the U.S. blockade has disrupted traditional Venezuelan oil flows, a significant portion of crude has been redirected to Caribbean storage facilities. Alongside this interdiction, trading companies have moved sanctioned Venezuelan crude into hubs in the Bahamas, St. Lucia, and Curaçao under supervision and licensing arrangements, reflecting a complex and shifting landscape.
Maritime observers describe the Caribbean’s role in the current oil trade as increasingly important, with storage terminals supplying buyers and serving as logistical staging points amid regulatory uncertainty. Recent data suggest that around 20 percent of Venezuela’s seaborne exports have been rerouted into Caribbean destinations since the U.S. blockade was enacted.
The U.S. government has defended the seizures as necessary to uphold sanctions and ensure that only authorized, legally traded Venezuelan oil enters international markets. Critics, however, argue that the confrontational approach risks escalating regional tensions and complicating global energy flows.
The ongoing situation continues to draw international attention, with potential implications for oil markets, Caribbean storage infrastructure, and the geopolitical balance surrounding Venezuela’s vast petroleum resources. Analysts will be watching closely to see how these interdictions and rerouted shipments influence supply dynamics and regional economic activity in the weeks ahead.