The Pentagon is holding the oil tanker Veronica 3 in the Indian Ocean

The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced on Sunday that it had conducted a successful operation at sea, seizing an oil tanker that was attempting to violate maritime sanctions and restrictions. The department confirmed that U.S. forces boarded the tanker in the Indian Ocean after a lengthy tracking operation that began in the Caribbean Sea.

According to details of the incident revealed by the ministry via its “X” platform, the detained vessel is the oil tanker “Veronica 3,” flying the Panamanian flag. The statement explained that the tanker attempted to defy the embargo imposed by US President Donald Trump on sanctioned vessels, trying to evade monitoring in the Caribbean and unload its cargo discreetly.

Details of the chase from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean

The Pentagon indicated that the operation was not spontaneous, but rather the result of meticulous monitoring of the ship's movements. The statement read: “The oil tanker Veronica 3 attempted to defy the embargo… We pursued it from the Caribbean Sea to the Indian Ocean, closing the distance to us and halting its movements.” This significant geographical shift from the Caribbean (western Atlantic) to the Indian Ocean reflects the extent of American resolve in enforcing sanctions and the logistical and intelligence capabilities of the US Navy to track ships across thousands of nautical miles.

Context of sanctions and maritime embargo

This incident comes amid the United States' intensified crackdown on shipping networks attempting to circumvent economic sanctions. Ships carrying prohibited cargo (whether oil or other goods) typically employ various tactics, such as disabling their Automatic Identification System (AIS) tracking devices, changing flags, or fleeing to distant international waters, as the Veronica 3 attempted to do by evading the embargo zone in the Caribbean.

The strategic importance of the operation

This operation carries significant strategic and military implications, as it underscores:

• The long arm of the US Navy: the ability to operate in multiple and widely separated theaters of operation (from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean) simultaneously.
• A deterrent message: To send a strong message to all companies and ship operators that escaping the no-fly zone does not mean escaping sanctions, and that pursuit may continue across the oceans.
• Adherence to presidential decisions: Strict implementation of executive orders issued by President Trump regarding the ban on violating vessels, which enhances the prestige of American sovereign decisions in international waters.

This incident serves as a reminder of the risks faced by ships that violate international laws or US sanctions, as they remain subject to detention and confiscation regardless of their geographical location or the flag they fly.