Key Takeaways
- The United States has seized another Venezuela-linked tanker, marking the sixth vessel targeted since mid-December.
- The tanker, Veronica, was seized in the Caribbean without incident, and was operating in defiance of President Trump’s established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the region.
- The US has filed for court warrants to seize dozens more tankers linked to the Venezuelan oil trade, as part of its campaign to control Venezuela’s oil resources.
- Most of the Venezuela-linked vessels seized so far were flying fake flags or had their registrations cancelled before the interceptions.
Introduction to the Seizure of the Tanker Veronica
The United States has seized another Venezuela-linked tanker, U.S. officials told Reuters on Thursday, ahead of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. The seizure marks the sixth vessel targeted since mid-December that was either carrying Venezuelan oil or had done so in the past. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the seizure took place in the Caribbean. The US military’s Southern Command confirmed the pre-dawn operation, saying US forces apprehended Motor/Tanker Veronica "without incident."
Details of the Tanker Veronica
The Guyana-flagged Aframax tanker Veronica departed empty from Venezuelan waters in early January, according to shipping documents from state company PDVSA and monitoring service TankerTrackers.com. The vessel had not returned to Venezuela as other ships have done in recent days. Footage from a video released by US Southern Command shows the Venezuela-linked tanker Veronica at sea, in a screen grab taken from a handout video released on January 15, 2026. The US has filed for court warrants to seize dozens more tankers linked to the Venezuelan oil trade, four sources told Reuters on Wednesday, as Washington consolidates control of oil shipments in and out of the South American country.
Context of the Seizure
The seizures began as part of Trump’s campaign to force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro out of power, which culminated in US forces swooping into the country to grab him and his wife on January 3. Since then, Trump has said the US plans to control Venezuela’s oil resources indefinitely as it seeks to rebuild the country’s dilapidated oil industry in a $100 billion plan. The move is part of a broader effort to exert pressure on the Venezuelan government and to restrict its ability to export oil. The US has imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, and has taken steps to prevent the country from exporting oil to other countries.
Implications of the Seizure
The seizure of the tanker Veronica has significant implications for Venezuela and the global oil market. The country’s oil industry has been severely impacted by US sanctions, and the seizure of the tanker is likely to further restrict its ability to export oil. The move is also likely to escalate tensions between the US and Venezuela, and could have broader implications for the region. The US has said that it will continue to take steps to restrict Venezuela’s ability to export oil, and has warned other countries against doing business with the Venezuelan government.
International Reaction
The seizure of the tanker Veronica has been met with international condemnation. Russia, in particular, has criticized the move, with the Russian government saying that it is an act of piracy. The Russian-flagged oil tanker that was seized by the US last week was being shadowed by a Russian submarine, and the move was seen as a provocative act by the US. The international community is watching the situation closely, and there are concerns about the potential for further escalation. The US has said that it will continue to take steps to restrict Venezuela’s ability to export oil, and has warned other countries against doing business with the Venezuelan government.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the seizure of the tanker Veronica is a significant development in the ongoing crisis in Venezuela. The move is part of a broader effort by the US to exert pressure on the Venezuelan government and to restrict its ability to export oil. The implications of the seizure are significant, and could have broader implications for the region and the global oil market. The international community is watching the situation closely, and there are concerns about the potential for further escalation. The US has said that it will continue to take steps to restrict Venezuela’s ability to export oil, and has warned other countries against doing business with the Venezuelan government.
