U.S. Coast Guard Pursues Sanctioned Vessel Near Venezuela: Escalating Tensions in the Caribbean
The U.S. Coast Guard is actively pursuing a sanctioned vessel in international waters near Venezuela, according to two U.S. officials. The vessel is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion and is flying a false flag under a judicial seizure order. This would mark the third vessel intercepted by the U.S. in the Caribbean, with the Pentagon recently interdicting a second tanker carrying sanctioned oil. The initial sanctioned boat, the Skipper, was seized earlier this month off the coast of Venezuela. Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela have escalated, with the Trump administration conducting strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific. President Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of war with Venezuela.