U.S. Coast Guard targets third tanker near Venezuela amid sanctions push

U.S. authorities on Sunday pursued a third oil tanker in international waters off Venezuela, a development described by officials familiar with the matter as part of an ongoing Coast Guard mission to enforce sanctions on Maduro-era oil shipments. The pursuit would be the second such operation this weekend and the third in less than a week, according to Reuters, which cited anonymous officials. The vessel was described as potentially carrying oil on the black market and was said to be under sanctions, though officials did not disclose the location of the operation.

There was no immediate comment from the White House on Sunday. The note of activity comes as the Coast Guard previously seized the Centuries oil tanker on December 20, 2025, an operation that forms part of a broader pressure campaign surrounding Venezuela’s government. President Trump has publicly framed the effort as a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, a posture that has accompanied a larger U.S. military presence in the region and repeated maritime actions near the Caribbean and Pacific approaches to the country. In remarks connected to the broader effort, Kevin Hassett, then-director of the White House National Economic Council, said the first two tankers seized in this wave were operating on the black market and supplying oil to sanctioned nations. He added that Americans should not expect a spike in domestic fuel prices as a result of these seizures, given that the vessels in question were not legitimate market participants.

Analysts and traders cautioned that while the seizures aim to disrupt sanctions-violating oil shipments, they could contribute to geopolitical risk and potentially push oil prices higher when global markets resume trading. One oil trader told Reuters that the actions raise the specter of supply constraints and sanction-driven friction, particularly if more sanctioned oil ventures are disrupted. However, some market participants noted that the trajectory of the broader conflict in Ukraine could temper price gains if a resolution there appears closer, keeping a lid on speculative reactions in the near term.

Beyond the immediate seizures, the episode underscores the Biden administration's emphasis on enforcing sanctions connected to Venezuela’s government and the perimeter of international waters where enforcement agencies can act. The White House has framed the campaign as a pressure tactic aimed at curbing illicit oil flows and pressuring Nicolás Maduro, while U.S. officials have highlighted that the seizures themselves are targeted and limited in scope. The broader context includes a pronounced U.S. military footprint in the region and a history of maritime actions against vessels believed to be involved in sanctions evasion, with some of the operations drawing attention to potential humanitarian or safety concerns in the Caribbean and adjacent waters.

Observers note that the ongoing enforcement, while aimed at reducing sanctioned oil trade, operates within a volatile geopolitical environment. As global oil markets contemplate the weekend developments, traders and policymakers alike will be watching for any signs of changes to shipping patterns, potential retaliation, or shifts in energy flows that could influence prices as markets open in Asia and across other regions. The White House did not provide a comment on Sunday regarding the latest pursuit, and no official confirmation of further details about the tanker or its destination was immediately available.

In all, Sunday’s pursuit adds to a week of intensified enforcement actions against maritime shipments linked to Venezuela, reflecting a broader strategy that U.S. officials say aims to constrain support for Maduro’s regime while signaling that sanctions will be actively enforced across international waters. The unfolding situation remains dynamic, with officials pledging vigilance as ships move through the region and as sanctions policies continue to evolve in response to geopolitical developments.