U.S. Forces Seize Another Sanctioned Oil Tanker In The Caribbean
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces have seized another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea that the Trump administration says has ties to Venezuela; this is part of a broader US effort to gain control of Venezuela. South American country’s oil.
“Motor Tanker Veronica had previously passed through Venezuelan waters and was operating in violation of President Trump’s established quarantine for sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on social media Thursday.
While a social media post by the US Southern Command about the capture stated that sailors and marines set out from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to carry out the capture, Noem’s post stated that, as in previous raids, the US Coast Guard tactical team carried out the boarding and seizure of the ship.
Noem released a short video showing part of the seizure of the ship. In the black-and-white images, helicopters are seen flying over the deck of a merchant ship while armed troops descend to the deck with ropes.
The Veronica is the sixth tanker seized by U.S. forces, and the fourth since, as part of President Donald Trump’s administration’s efforts to control the production, refining and global distribution of Venezuelan oil products. US dismissal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise night raid almost two weeks ago.
Noem said in a social media post that the raid was carried out “in close coordination with our colleagues” at the State and Justice departments, as well as the military.
“Our heroic Coast Guard men and women once again ensured a flawlessly executed operation in accordance with international law,” Noem added.
As in previous posts, Noem and the military framed the seizure as part of an effort to enforce the law. Noem argued that the multiple captures showed “there is no evasion or evasion of American justice.”
But other officials in Trump’s Republican administration have made clear that they see it as a way to generate cash to rebuild Venezuela’s battered oil industry and revive its economy.
Trump last week He met with managers of oil companies He will discuss his goal of investing $100 billion in Venezuela to restore and improve oil production and distribution. Management said it at least expected to sell 30 million to 50 million barrels Confirmed Venezuelan oil.
