The U.S. Coast Guard continues its pursuit of a sanctioned oil tanker more than a week after the initial interception attempt. This development is part of President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign on Venezuela, following reports that the United States targeted a dock facility along the shore.
According to information from two U.S. officials reported by The New York Times, the tanker allegedly tried to seek protection from Russia by displaying a Russian flag on its side. The vessel in question, identified as Bella 1 by British maritime risk management group Vanguard and a U.S. maritime security source, is a large crude oil carrier that was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department last year due to its connections to Iran.
On December 22, Trump confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard was pursuing the tanker, which the administration referred to as part of Venezuela’s “dark fleet” used to circumvent U.S. sanctions. This operation marked the second such incident over that weekend.
The ongoing pursuit at sea follows a recent incident where the U.S. targeted a facility in Venezuela where, as President Trump claimed, boats were being loaded with drugs. This action signified the first known land operation conducted by Washington within Venezuela since the commencement of the pressure campaign.
CNN reported that the CIA conducted a drone strike earlier this month on a port facility along the Venezuelan coast, aiming at disrupting the alleged drug trafficking activities of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The U.S. military also confirmed carrying out a strike on a drug-smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. These strikes are part of a series of operations that have reportedly killed at least 107 people in 30 incidents since early September, as per data released by the Trump administration.
In October, Trump authorized the CIA to undertake covert operations in Venezuela, which included the recent strikes. In addition to these actions, the U.S. has deployed warships, bolstered military presence in the region, and seized two oil tankers before initiating the pursuit of Bella 1. The Trump administration has emphasized its efforts to combat drug cartels and prevent narcotics from entering the United States, while Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has accused the U.S. of aiming to oust him from power.
The Venezuelan government’s press office did not respond immediately to requests for comments. The situation underscores escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, with the U.S. potentially considering a ground invasion, as highlighted by recent military engagements and strategic moves in the region.