WILLEMSTAD – The United States has again taken action against an oil tanker near Venezuela, pursuing the Panama-flagged vessel Bella 1 in international waters as part of an intensified push to enforce a blockade on tankers linked to sanctions and Venezuelan oil exports. The move marks the third such action in less than two weeks and underscores growing geopolitical tension in the region.
U.S. Coast Guard units are actively tracking the Bella 1, which U.S. officials say is part of Venezuela’s so-called “shadow fleet” used to evade sanctions. The tanker, under U.S. sanctions due to alleged prior transport of Venezuelan and Iranian oil, was sailing toward Venezuela to load crude when interception efforts began.
This latest operation follows recent interceptions of other tankers, including the supertankers Centuries and Skipper. The Skipper was seized earlier in December under a U.S. judicial order after it was found to be carrying Venezuelan crude and allegedly linked to sanctions evasion networks. A second tanker, the Centuries, was intercepted in international waters shortly thereafter.
Blockade Ordered by Trump Administration
The heightened activity comes after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuelan ports as part of a broader campaign to tighten pressure on the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Trump and U.S. officials frame the measures as efforts to cut off critical oil revenues that support the Venezuelan regime and to curb illicit trafficking networks.
The U.S. has emphasized that these interdictions are designed to target vessels accused of evading sanctions and facilitating illicit oil trade. Officials have described some of the vessels as using false flags or otherwise obscuring their identities to avoid detection.
International and Regional Reactions
The blockade and tanker interceptions have generated international concern, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Venezuela has condemned the actions, denouncing them as violations of international law and “acts of piracy” by the United States. Caracas has also indicated intentions to escalate diplomatic protests and pursue complaints through the United Nations.
Oil market reactions have been modest so far, with global crude prices climbing slightly amid uncertainty about the impact of the blockade on Venezuelan exports. Energy analysts warn that sustained pressure on Venezuela’s oil sector could prompt sharper changes in export volumes and storage capacity.
Strategic Ramifications
The ongoing interceptions in the Caribbean raise questions about regional stability, maritime law, and the future of Venezuela’s oil industry. Curaçao and other Caribbean states are geographically close to these operations, prompting heightened attention to how such maritime enforcement actions may affect neighboring waters and shipping routes.
The Bella 1 pursuit illustrates how far the U.S. is willing to go to enforce sanctions and pressure the Maduro government, even as critics caution that aggressive tactics could elevate tensions and unintended consequences in an already volatile region.
— Reporting compiled with information from Reuters, CNN, and France24.