The United States took over another tanker off the coast of Venezuela, expanding the force on Caracas only a fewer days after president Donald Trump announced a "total and complete" blockade of unilaterally sanctioned oil supplies.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland safety Kristi Noem confirmed the raid on Saturday, reporting that the U.S. Coast Guard, with the support of the War Department, had retained a tanker that had late docked in Venezuela.
Noem besides posted video footage of the operation in a post on X, claiming the action was aimed at "illegal smuggling of sanctioned oil", allegedly utilized for financing "Narcoterrorism" in the region.
This action has taken place due to the concentration of US armed forces close Venezuela and is simply a consequence of Trump's order to block all sanctioned tankers entering or leaving the country at the beginning of this week.
However, unlike the oil tanker taken over at the beginning of this month, the vessel intercepted this weekend was not subject to US sanctions and carried Venezuelan oil destined for Asia, reported CNN.
The confiscation took place in global waters and it is the second specified action in fresh weeks.
Since the first confiscation, respective vessels have reportedly remained in Venezuelan waters, avoiding the hazard of confiscation, which drastically reduced oil exports from this country.
Earlier this week Trump accused Venezuela of “stealing” American oil assets and investments, informing that Washington "wants it back,’ Otherwise Caracas will feel anger "the largest armada always assembled in South American history".
As of September, the US force run included the deployment of naval forces, the acquisition of ships and dozens of attacks on allegedly drug-carrying boats close Venezuela, resulting in over 100 alleged cartel members being killed, according to US officials.
Caracas denied any engagement in drug trafficking and condemned the takeover and blockade as illegal acts of piracy, informing that it would defend its sovereignty.
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro accused Washington of seeking to change the government to take control of the country's vast oil reserves.
Russia and China besides spoke, calling for restraint.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Pieskov warned that escalation of tensions could lead to "unforeseeable events".
Chinese Ministry of abroad Affairs stated that Beijing opposes ‘unilaterality and intimidation’ and supports Venezuela's sovereign right to free trade.
The United States has not ruled out further action and Trump late stated that land attacks on Venezuela stay under consideration.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/629828-us-seizes-venezuela-oil-tanker/
