US forces intercept a second oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast
發佈日期: 2025-12-21 22:29
TVB News
The United States has intercepted an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in international waters. The move comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.
Footage from the U.S. Department of Defense showed U.S. forces stopping an oil tanker Saturday off the coast of Venezuela for the second time this month. U.S. military fast-roping from a helicopter onto the ship.
The pre-dawn operation comes days after Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of the South American country.
It also follows the December 10th seizure by American forces of an oil tanker off Venezuela's coast. A move by US President Donald Trump to ramp up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the U.S. Coast Guard with the Defense Department stopped the oil tanker that was last docked in Venezuela.
She wrote on social media that the U.S. helicopter landed personnel on a vessel called Centuries.
A U.S. official speaking anonymously said the action was a consented boarding with the tanker stopping voluntarily and allowing U.S. forces to board it.
Trump has cited lost U.S. investments in Venezuela as reason for his pressure campaign on Maduro, suggesting the Republican administration's moves are somewhat motivated by disputes over oil investments along with accusations of drug trafficking.
The crude on the Centuries oil tanker was reportedly bought by one of manyintermediaries involved in sales to Chinese independent refiners, according to Venezuelan state oil company's PDVSA's documents.
Some sanctioned tankers already are diverting away from Venezuela.
