US Intensifies Control Over Venezuelan Oil Exports with Latest Tanker Seizure

Fri Jan 16 2026 03:21:24 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In an ongoing campaign to regulate Venezuelan oil exports, the US military has seized a sixth tanker, the 'Veronica', amid tensions surrounding the nation's leader Nicolás Maduro.

The US military has captured the sixth tanker linked to Venezuelan oil exports, named 'Veronica', emphasizing its commitment to enforcing sanctions against the Maduro government. This operation reflects persistent US involvement in Venezuelan oil exports, coinciding with discussions between President Trump and opposition leaders. The seizure is part of a broader strategy to control and regulate oil shipments amid a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and domestic changes within Venezuela.

The US has seized a sixth tanker in the Caribbean Sea in its ongoing efforts to control exports of Venezuelan oil, officials say.

The vessel, Veronica, was boarded in a predawn operation 'without incident' as it was defying President Donald Trump's 'quarantine of sanctioned vessels', said the US military.

'The only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully,' the Southern Command asserted.

This marks a significant increase in US military activity concerning Venezuelan oil, particularly following recent military strikes and the ouster of president Nicolás Maduro, with Trump indicating intentions to leverage the country's extensive oil resources.

'The Veronica is the latest tanker operating in defiance of President Trump's established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean,' US Southern Command said in a post on social media, accompanying a video of the operation.

The Veronica, a crude oil tanker operating under the Guyanese flag, departed empty from Venezuelan waters, highlighting the tensions surrounding Venezuelan oil exports amid the international sanctions.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the seizure involved 'close coordination' with various branches of government, emphasizing the importance of adherence to international law during these operations.

The efforts to clamp down on vessels transporting sanctioned oil are part of a broader US tactic to support Venezuela's interim government and regulate its oil sales.

As the situation evolves, the US has successfully sold Venezuelan oil, raising the potential for further involvement in Venezuela's energy sector as Washington continues its crackdown on what is referred to as the 'dark fleet'.

Trump has recently urged oil executives to invest in Venezuela's energy infrastructure, signaling a possible shift in how the US approaches Venezuelan oil moving forward.

Amid these developments, a Venezuelan government envoy is expected to meet US officials to discuss reopening the embassy, being a sign of potential engagement with the interim leadership of Venezuela.