(WASHINGTON, 2025-12-22 01:19:00) — The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing a vessel in international waters near Venezuela as tensions escalate in the region, according to U.S. officials.
The U.S. is actively pursuing another oil tanker following the seizure of two vessels this month amid accusations of sanctions evasion by Venezuela.
- The U.S. Coast Guard is in “active pursuit” of a “sanctioned dark fleet vessel” near Venezuela.
- This pursuit follows the seizure of two oil tankers by U.S. authorities earlier this month.
- Venezuela has accused the U.S. of “theft and kidnapping” in response to the tanker seizures.
The current pursuit involves a vessel identified by a U.S. official as part of Venezuela’s efforts to evade sanctions, flying a “false flag” and subject to a judicial seizure order. This comes after U.S. authorities seized two oil tankers this month, one on Saturday, according to the BBC.
U.S. Accusations and Venezuelan Response
Washington accuses Venezuela of using revenue from oil sales to fund drug-related crime. Venezuela, however, has described the tanker seizures as “theft and kidnapping.” President Donald Trump last week ordered a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the country, a move Venezuela claims is an attempt to steal its resources.
As of last week, more than 30 of the 80 ships in Venezuelan waters or approaching the country were under U.S. sanctions, according to data compiled by TankerTrackers.com. Saturday’s seizure involved a Panamanian-flagged tanker boarded by a specialized tactical team in international waters. While the ship is not on the U.S. Treasury’s list of sanctioned vessels, U.S. authorities stated it was carrying “sanctioned PDVSA oil,” and records show it has sailed under the flags of Greece and Liberia in the past five years, according to BBC Verify.
The Venezuelan government responded to Saturday’s seizure stating, “These acts will not go unpunished,” and announced its intention to file a complaint with the United Nations Security Council and “other multilateral agencies and the governments of the world.”
Escalating Tensions and Military Presence
Venezuela is heavily reliant on oil export revenues to fund government spending. In recent weeks, the U.S. has increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea and conducted strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, resulting in approximately 100 deaths. Sanctions have also been placed on relatives of President Nicolás Maduro and businesses linked to what the U.S. considers his “illegitimate regime.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Friday that the current situation with the Venezuelan regime is “intolerable” for the United States, and that the Trump administration aims to change this dynamic. These comments were criticized by Venezuela’s foreign minister, who accused Rubio of pursuing a path toward “regime changes.”
The U.S. has not provided public evidence linking the vessels to drug trafficking, and the military strikes have faced increasing scrutiny from Congress. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading the “Cartel de los Soles,” a claim he denies.
“It is clear that the current status quo with the Venezuelan regime is intolerable for the United States,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday.
Transparency line: Time.news based this report in part on reporting by BBC News and added independent analysis and context.
