Flames rise from flare stakes at the Amuay refinery in Los Taques, Venezuela.
U.S. military forces have taken over a seventh sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela. The action is part of President Donald Trump’s wider push to control Venezuelan oil exports and influence global fuel markets.
Tanker Seized Without Resistance
On Tuesday, U.S. Southern Command announced that troops boarded and apprehended the Liberian-flagged Motor Vessel Sagitta. The operation occurred without any reported incident.
Military officials said the ship was operating in defiance of Trump’s quarantine on sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean Sea. The quarantine is meant to stop oil shipments that violate U.S. sanctions.
Unclassified aerial footage shared by the command showed the tanker moving on the water. Unlike past operations, the video did not show helicopters or troops landing on the deck.
What We Know About the Sagitta
The Sagitta is registered in Liberia but managed by a firm based in Hong Kong. It had last been tracked more than two months ago after leaving northern Europe’s Baltic Sea.
U.S. officials say the vessel carried Venezuelan oil in violation of sanctions tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. Aims to Control Venezuelan Oil
The tanker seizure is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to assert control over Venezuela’s oil production, refining, and export system. That strategy took on new urgency after a U.S. military raid on Jan. 3 ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Officials say these seizures help funnel oil through channels that the U.S. deems legal and properly coordinated. Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. plans to sell Venezuelan oil on world markets to help lower prices.
At a White House briefing Tuesday, Trump claimed the U.S. has already taken 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil and is selling it to bring down energy costs.
Tanker Seizures Since December
The Sagitta marks the seventh tanker seized since early December. The first capture happened off Venezuela’s coast on Dec. 10. Most of the tankers were seized near Venezuelan waters, with one captured in the North Atlantic after it changed course toward Europe.
U.S. Southern Command has not confirmed whether the U.S. Coast Guard took formal custody of the Sagitta, as was done in earlier seizures. The Pentagon and military command declined further comment.
Broader Political and Economic Goals
Trump’s administration has signaled it wants to rebuild Venezuela’s struggling oil industry. He recently met with top oil executives to push a plan to invest $100 billion in repairs and upgrades.
Administration officials argue that controlled oil sales could help stabilize the Venezuelan economy and generate revenue. Critics, however, warn that these tactics raise legal and sovereignty questions.
Continued Tension in the Region
The ongoing tanker seizures underscore rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela. Trump’s actions to seize Venezuelan oil are being closely watched internationally. They reflect a bold strategy to exert influence over one of the world’s largest oil reserves.
