The United States has intensified its maritime pressure campaign against Venezuela, with officials confirming on Sunday, December 22, 2025, an active pursuit of a third sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea.
Escalating Pressure on Venezuelan Oil Exports
This latest development comes just one day after the U.S. Coast Guard seized the Panama-flagged tanker Centuries, which was reportedly carrying 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously to AFP, stated the Coast Guard is chasing a "sanctioned dark fleet vessel" involved in Venezuela's efforts to evade international sanctions. The official accused the ship of flying a false flag and being under a judicial seizure order.
News reports have identified the vessel as the Bella 1, an oil tanker placed under U.S. sanctions in 2024 over alleged connections to Iran and Hezbollah. According to tracking data from TankerTrackers.com, the Bella 1 was sailing towards Venezuela but was not loaded with cargo at the time. The New York Times reported that U.S. forces approached the ship late Saturday, but it refused to submit to boarding and continued on its course.
Trump's Blockade and Broader Military Presence
These aggressive maritime actions follow a declaration by U.S. President Donald Trump on December 16. He announced a blockade targeting all sanctioned oil vessels traveling to and from Venezuela, demanding the return of what he called stolen U.S. assets. Concurrently, Washington has deployed a significant naval force to the Caribbean under the stated mission of combating drug trafficking.
The government in Caracas, led by President Nicolas Maduro, condemns these moves as part of a wider campaign to overthrow his administration and seize Venezuela's vast oil reserves. Venezuelan officials deny any involvement in drug trafficking and accuse the U.S. of illegal aggression.
Contrast with Licensed Oil Trade and Legal Questions
In a pointed contrast, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez highlighted on Sunday that a tanker operated by the American oil giant Chevron had just departed Venezuela for the United States, carrying Venezuelan oil in full compliance with its renewed U.S. license. Chevron accounts for roughly 10% of Venezuela's oil production.
Meanwhile, questions surround the seizure of the Centuries. An AFP review found that the Centuries tanker does not appear on the U.S. Treasury's sanctions list. The Trump administration justifies its actions by claiming Venezuela uses oil revenue to finance "narcoterrorism," a charge Caracas vehemently denies. Critics have also raised concerns over the legality of recent U.S. airstrikes on alleged drug boats in the region, which have resulted in over 100 fatalities since September.
The pursuit of the Bella 1 marks a significant escalation, demonstrating Washington's commitment to enforcing its sanctions regime through direct military and coast guard intervention in Venezuela's strategic waterways.
