Washington: In a dramatic escalation of U.S. enforcement actions aimed at curbing Venezuela’s oil exports, American forces have intercepted a large oil tanker in international waters off the Venezuelan coast, U.S. officials confirmed Saturday. The move follows President Donald Trump’s recent order of a “total and complete blockade” on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, part of an intensified campaign against the Nicolás Maduro regime.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the United States Coast Guard, supported by Pentagon assets, intercepted the vessel believed to be the Panama-flagged Centuries while it carried approximately 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey crude oil destined for China. U.S. authorities contend the tanker was operating as part of a so-called “shadow fleet,” a network of vessels that disguise their identity and evade sanctions to transport Venezuelan crude.
The operation marks the second major U.S. interdiction of a Venezuelan-linked oil vessel within weeks, underscoring the Trump administration’s increasingly assertive posture. According to the U.S., these actions are intended to cut off revenue streams that Washington claims are being used to finance narcoterrorism and other illicit activities tied to Maduro’s government. Secretary Noem reiterated this position on social media, asserting that “we will find you, and we will stop you.”
President Trump’s blockade directive, announced earlier this week, aims to prevent sanctioned oil tankers from operating freely in and out of Venezuelan ports. While many vessels associated with Venezuelan crude are already subject to U.S. sanctions, others including some transporting oil for international buyers have continued to operate, complicating enforcement efforts.
The Venezuelan government responded with fierce condemnation, denouncing the U.S. action as a “serious act of international piracy.” Caracas officials said the interception and boarding of the vessel in international waters constituted theft and a violation of international law, and announced plans to lodge formal complaints with the United Nations Security Council and other global bodies.
Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA and the oil ministry have not issued detailed public comments yet, but government statements have labeled the U.S. maneuvers as part of a broader attempt to undermine Venezuelan sovereignty and control over its natural resources.
This latest interdiction occurs amid a notable U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and Latin American region, reflecting heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas. The Trump administration’s campaign to pressure Maduro has included expanded sanctions, naval patrols, and warnings of further actions including potential ground strikes intended to disrupt not only oil shipments but also alleged drug trafficking networks linked to the Venezuelan state.
Analysts note that U.S. efforts have already led to a significant drop in Venezuelan crude exports. Many loaded tankers remain anchored in Venezuelan waters, reluctant to risk interception while the blockade persists. A weak oil export outlook has broader economic implications for Venezuela, where oil revenue remains the backbone of public finances.
China, historically the largest buyer of Venezuelan crude, may see continued disruption in supply flows as enforcement tightens. While global oil markets are presently well supplied, prolonged export constraints could contribute to upward pressure on crude prices if Venezuelan output remains stifled.
The interception also risks drawing broader international criticism. Several Latin American nations and Caribbean partners have expressed concern about unilateral U.S. military actions, urging diplomatic solutions and cautioning against escalation into open conflict. Venezuela’s allies have framed the U.S. interventions as aggressive overreach with potential regional destabilization consequences.
As the standoff continues, the U.S. is likely to maintain pressure on Maduro’s government through both sanctions enforcement and strategic naval presence. For Caracas, the challenge will be navigating diplomatic isolation while seeking international support and legal recourse for what it views as violations of maritime law. With both sides entrenched, the Venezuela-U.S. confrontation over oil exports and sanctions enforcement looks set to shape geopolitical and energy dynamics in the Western Hemisphere in the weeks and months ahead.