In a stunning turn of events, the United States has seized a second oil tanker linked to Venezuela on Wednesday morning. The seizure, which took place off the coast of the small Caribbean island of St. Maarten, marks an escalation in the U.S. government’s efforts to cut off the flow of oil from the crisis-ridden country.
The tanker, named the Bella, was carrying approximately 700,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude oil, worth an estimated $50 million. This seizure comes just weeks after the U.S. seized another vessel, the Luna, which was also carrying Venezuelan oil.
The U.S. government has been increasing pressure on Venezuela in recent months, as the country’s political and economic crisis deepens. The Trump administration has imposed a series of sanctions on Venezuelan officials and entities, in an effort to force President Nicolas Maduro to step down.
One of the key points of contention between the U.S. and Venezuela is the oil trade. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, in an attempt to stop the flow of oil to the country. However, Venezuela has been able to continue exporting oil by using various tactics, including reflagging tankers and using companies based in countries like Russia and China.
The seizure of the Bella is a clear message to Venezuela and its allies that the U.S. is serious about enforcing its sanctions. The move is likely to further strain relations between the two countries, and could lead to retaliation from Venezuela.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Venezuela will respond to this latest seizure, and what impact it will have on the country’s already dire economic situation. One thing is certain, however – the U.S. is not backing down in its efforts to put pressure on Russia and China.
