Explained: Why is the US Coast Guard pursuing oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela?

Explained: Why is the US Coast Guard pursuing oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela?

New Delhi: In the latest act of aggression against Venezuela, US Coast Guard officials said on Sunday that they were tracking an oil tanker in international waters close to Venezuela. This is the second such action over the weekend and the third within the past week. 

This "active pursuit” in the Caribbean Sea comes a day after the coast guard seized another vessel off the coast of Venezuela. Coming up with recent similar offensives, these actions by the US are clearly a tactic to put pressure on the Venezuelan government and its the country’s pivotal oil sector on which it heavily depends.

Speaking of the latest action, unnamed officials told the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse that the pursuit involved "a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela’s illegal sanctions evasion”. The ship intercepted was reportedly flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order. The ship, by several news outlets, was identified as the Bella 1, an oil tanker under US sanctions since 2024 as a result of its association with Hezbollah.

US forces subsequently approached the vessel late on Saturday, but the ship did not submit to being boarded and continued sailing, according to the New York Times. According to the specialized site TankerTrackers, the ship was en route to Venezuela but not carrying cargo.

Kevin Hassett, the White House national economic council director, said on Sunday to CBS that the first two tankers intercepted had been operating illegally, allegedly supplying oil to sanctioned nations. "And so I don’t think that people need to be worried here in the US that the prices are going to go up because of these seizures of these ships,” Hassett said.

These escalatory tactics employed by the US against Venezuela have been going on for some time now. The US under Trump has also refused to rule out the potential for open conflict with Venezuela. After the first oil tanker was seized, the Venezuelan government said in a statement that the US had committed "blatant theft” and described the action as "an act of international piracy”, the US has nonetheless continued in its actions.

The root of contention between the two countries is the US claim that the Venezuelan leader Nicoals Maduro is engaged in drug trade which is severely affecting the US. The Venezuelan government has denied these claims but the US has stated that it does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate ruler of the country.

As a result of this, the United States Coast Guard has been in pursuit and interception of oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela. The US military presence in the region has grown significantly recently, and is part of Washington’s long-standing sanctions against Venezuela and its oil industry. Trump attacking the vessels is part of US action against the oil industry of the country, which the US sees as pivotal to Maduro’s government. 

Since 2019, the United States has imposed sweeping sanctions on the Venezuelan oil industry, essentially criminalising most transactions involving Venezuelan crude oil unless. As a result of this any tankers suspected of carrying Venezuelan oil without authorisation are seen as violating US sanctions. As US action on Venezuela has increased diplomatically, so has it increased on the seas.

With the recent actions, the US is looking to limit Venezuela’s ability to generate revenue through sale of oil, compounding this with further economic sanctions. Oil exports remain Venezuela’s primary source of hard currency and curbing them is intended to constrain the government’s capacity to finance both its military and politics. Increased US presence in the region reinforces the US intent of bringing an end to Nicoals Maduro’s rule and sends a clear message to anyone looking to engage with Venezuela in oil trade.