In a significant escalation of maritime pressure, United States forces have intercepted a second merchant vessel off the coast of Venezuela in international waters. The move, confirmed by US officials on Saturday, follows President Donald Trump's declaration of a "total and complete" blockade against sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the South American nation.
Escalating Tensions in the Caribbean
The latest interception occurred just days after the US seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast on 10 December. According to two US officials who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, the military operation is ongoing. The officials were not authorised to discuss the details publicly, highlighting the sensitive nature of the manoeuvres.
This development unfolds against a backdrop of sharply rising tensions. President Trump has explicitly refused to rule out the potential for open conflict with Venezuela. In a phone interview with NBC News broadcast on Friday, Trump stated, "I don't rule it out, no," when asked about going to war with the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Maduro's Defiance and International Concern
In response to the US pressure, President Maduro has reportedly urged his navy to escort oil tankers, directly defying the largest US fleet deployed in the region for decades. Maduro contends that the US's true aim is regime change, rather than its stated objective of combating drug trafficking.
The US further justified its actions this week by accusing Venezuela of seizing American oil assets. "They took all of our oil not that long ago. And we want it back. They took it – they illegally took it," President Trump claimed.
International concern is growing. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum criticised the United Nations for being "nowhere to be seen" and called for the body to step in to "prevent any bloodshed." This diplomatic wading-in underscores the regional anxiety over the potential for the situation to spiral.
A Broader Campaign of Pressure
The maritime blockade is part of a broader, aggressive campaign. On Thursday, the US military conducted a lethal strike on a vessel it alleged was engaged in drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, killing four people. This action brought the death toll from such strikes since September to 99.
The sequence of events paints a picture of intensifying coercion:
- 10 December: US forces seize an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast.
- Subsequent days: President Trump announces a full blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers.
- Saturday: A second merchant vessel is intercepted by US forces in international waters.
With a major US naval presence in the region and rhetoric from Washington that keeps military options open, the standoff in the Caribbean shows no signs of abating. The situation remains volatile, with global energy markets and regional stability hanging in the balance.
