The United States intercepted another ship near the Venezuelan coast, in international waters. The information about the oil tanker’s third blockage was confirmed this Sunday (21) by North American authorities to the Reuters News Agency.
The operation marks the second approach of the weekend. The move comes days after President Donald Trump announced a total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers linked to the Venezuelan government. The White House has not yet officially commented on the episode.
Sources interviewed by Reuters reported that it was the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Bella 1, which was heading to Venezuela for loading. The interception occurred after previous approaches to the Centuries ships, this Saturday (20), and the Skipper, on Wednesday (10).
In the second interception, the Venezuelan government classified the operations as “criminal”. Caracas stated that it will not let the acts go unpunished and announced measures in international bodies.
Maduro regime accuses US of robbery for blocking oil tanker
In an official note, the regime denounced what it called “theft and hijacking” of private vessels. The statement also mentions the “forced disappearance” of crew members. Nicolás Maduro stated that he will adopt “all appropriate measures”, such as presenting complaints to the United Nations Security Council, other multilateral organizations and foreign governments.
Experts interviewed by Reuters say that the blockade directly threatens the regime’s main source of revenue. Without exports, PDVSA’s tanks could reach their limit and force the closure of wells. Trump also raised the political tone. The president classified the Maduro government as a foreign terrorist organization, on charges of drug trafficking.
Venezuelan Vice President and Minister of Oil, Delcy Rodríguez, condemned the action. She called the operation a “serious act of piracy”. Maduro accused Washington of imposing a “colonialist model”. The Venezuelan government stated that international law will prevail.
