The US seizes a fifth Venezuelan oil tanker and pursues the ghost fleet
In a further escalation of its stringent sanctions policy, the United States announced on Friday the seizure of a fifth oil tanker, the Olena, after it sailed from Venezuela in an attempt to circumvent the economic embargo imposed on Caracas's oil exports. This move comes as part of a broader campaign targeting the so-called "ghost fleet" used by sanctioned countries to export their energy resources.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed via her official X account that the tanker "Olena" had been identified as part of a suspected fleet transporting illicit oil. She explained that the seizure was successful after the vessel attempted to sail from Venezuelan ports, disguised to evade detection by U.S. naval forces. She emphasized Washington's determination to continue cracking down on attempts to circumvent international law.
US-British cooperation in the Atlantic
In parallel with the operation in the Caribbean, Britain revealed the pivotal role its forces played in assisting the United States to seize another Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic. The British Ministry of Defence explained in an official statement that it provided “coordinated operational assistance” to US forces to intercept the vessel Bella 1 (later renamed Marinera). The operation took place in the maritime area between Britain, Iceland, and Greenland, at the direct request of Washington, reflecting the high level of security coordination between the two allies to secure international waterways.
What is a “ghost fleet”?
These operations highlight the phenomenon of the “ghost fleet,” a network of old and dilapidated vessels that often operate without internationally recognized insurance and switch off their transponders (AIS) to conceal their locations and routes. Countries like Venezuela, Iran, and Russia resort to these methods to transport oil clandestinely and sell it on the black market at discounted prices, circumventing Western sanctions designed to reduce their revenue streams.
Background to the conflict and sanctions on Venezuela
The oil tensions between Washington and Caracas date back several years, with the United States imposing a series of harsh sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company, PDVSA, since 2019. These sanctions aim to exert maximum economic pressure on President Nicolás Maduro's government, depriving it of the hard currency generated by oil exports, the lifeblood of the Venezuelan economy. Despite intermittent diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, persistent political disagreements are pushing Washington to revert to its policy of "zeroing out" exports through maritime surveillance.
International repercussions and political messages
These successive seizures carry clear political messages that extend beyond the economic dimension; they underscore the US administration's determination to impose its dominance over global energy routes and prevent the formation of any parallel economic blocs that rely on smuggling. Furthermore, the British-American cooperation in pursuing Russian and Venezuelan vessels indicates a united Western front against countries that Washington and its allies classify as threats to international peace and security, foreshadowing further tension in global energy markets in the coming period.
