US forces have launched a daring operation to board and seize a sanctioned tanker in the Indian Ocean, marking the latest chapter in the US government's efforts to strangle Venezuela's oil industry. The tanker, carrying illicit Russian oil, had been evading US sanctions by flying under a false flag from the Caribbean Sea.
According to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the operation was part of an ongoing effort to squeeze Venezuela and deprive it of its lucrative oil exports. "We're going to get them," he vowed, saying that his military commanders would stop at nothing to capture the ships.
The Aquila II, a Panamanian-flagged tanker, has been at the centre of US attention for months due to its illicit activities. It had fled the Venezuelan coast last month, joining at least 16 other tankers in attempting to circumvent US sanctions.
US forces tracked the ship's movements using satellite imagery and surface-level photos, and finally boarded it in a pre-dawn operation. The tanker is now being held by the US while its ultimate fate is decided.
The operation marks another escalation in the Trump administration's efforts to control Venezuela's oil production, refining, and distribution. Officials aim to rebuild the country's battered economy and generate cash from seized oil assets.
This latest development comes as tensions between the US and Cuba remain high, with President Donald Trump seeking to restrict oil shipments to the island nation. The Cuban government has been caught in the crossfire, struggling to maintain its economy under strict sanctions imposed by the US.
The Pentagon confirmed that the operation involved US forces from the USS Pinckney and USS John Finn destroyers, as well as a mobile base ship, USS Miguel Keith. Video footage posted by the Pentagon shows uniformed forces boarding a Navy helicopter that took off from the Miguel Keith, highlighting the daring nature of the operation.
The incident raises concerns about human rights in Venezuela, where the Trump administration's actions have sparked widespread criticism and opposition from both inside and outside the country.
According to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the operation was part of an ongoing effort to squeeze Venezuela and deprive it of its lucrative oil exports. "We're going to get them," he vowed, saying that his military commanders would stop at nothing to capture the ships.
The Aquila II, a Panamanian-flagged tanker, has been at the centre of US attention for months due to its illicit activities. It had fled the Venezuelan coast last month, joining at least 16 other tankers in attempting to circumvent US sanctions.
US forces tracked the ship's movements using satellite imagery and surface-level photos, and finally boarded it in a pre-dawn operation. The tanker is now being held by the US while its ultimate fate is decided.
The operation marks another escalation in the Trump administration's efforts to control Venezuela's oil production, refining, and distribution. Officials aim to rebuild the country's battered economy and generate cash from seized oil assets.
This latest development comes as tensions between the US and Cuba remain high, with President Donald Trump seeking to restrict oil shipments to the island nation. The Cuban government has been caught in the crossfire, struggling to maintain its economy under strict sanctions imposed by the US.
The Pentagon confirmed that the operation involved US forces from the USS Pinckney and USS John Finn destroyers, as well as a mobile base ship, USS Miguel Keith. Video footage posted by the Pentagon shows uniformed forces boarding a Navy helicopter that took off from the Miguel Keith, highlighting the daring nature of the operation.
The incident raises concerns about human rights in Venezuela, where the Trump administration's actions have sparked widespread criticism and opposition from both inside and outside the country.
. I mean i get it they wanna stop Russia's illicit oil shipments but come on how r u gonna do that w/o hurting innocent ppl? 
This Aquila II tanker thingy has been around 4 months now & its like US is chasing its tail trying 2 catch it 
The whole world is talkin bout how US actions r hurtin people there & Cuba too... Like can't we all just get along & find a way 2 help these countries without makin it worse? 
It's like, I get the politics but come on let's think abt the ppl affected here 
this whole thing is super complicated. on one hand, you gotta feel for venezuela - they're already struggling to make ends meet with oil prices being so low and all that. but at the same time, there's some real red flags here... like how many times have we seen tankers just fly under a false flag? it's not exactly rocket science, right?
anyway, one thing's for sure - something needs to give on all sides.
just saw this news and gotta say... US is being super aggressive here 
. like, I get it, they wanna strangle Venezuela's oil industry to hurt the Cuban government 
but come on, is that really the way to do it? all these sanctions and military operations are gonna cause so much human suffering 
and for what? just to try and control their economy? 
. it feels like this whole thing is getting out of hand 
. can't we just talk to each other instead of resorting to military might? 
The sanctions thing is one thing but literally boarding a ship in the middle of the ocean? It sounds like some Tom Clancy novel 
And what about Venezuela? Are we just gonna keep strangling them economically until they collapse? That sounds like a recipe for disaster 
... how's that for some serious tech? Interesting 
I'm not sure if this is gonna be a game-changer for them or just another attempt to exert control over the situation... but one thing's for sure, it's setting off some major waves in the region! 
. I'm also curious to see how this whole ordeal plays out, especially with Cuba getting caught in the crossfire... will they start to feel the squeeze as well? 
They say they just wanna squeeze some oil outta them, but what about the impact on everyday Venezuelans? It's all so... complicated 
. The Trump admin is trying to flex its muscles and show everyone who's boss, but honestly, it just feels like more drama 
my aunt works w/ a venezuelan company & she's been saying that things r really tough over there right now... anywayz back 2 the tanker - so they boarded it in a pre-dawn op w/ like 100 soldiers from the us navy 
The US operation to seize the sanctioned tanker is a real eye-opener... I mean, what's next? They're basically saying they'll stop at nothing to get what they want 
. We should be questioning our government's motives, not blindly following their lead 
.
. Let's be honest, we're living in a world where the US can basically do whatever it wants and claim it's all for our own good 
my cousin has a friend who's actually from Venezuela and they're all like "what's going on? is it safe to travel?" 
anyway, I'm kinda glad the US did something about the tanker thing... I mean, someone had to hold those guys accountable 
but at the same time I worry about the impact this is gonna have on Venezuela's economy 
my friend who works in finance told me that if they seize all their oil assets, it could be a huge blow to the country's ability to recover from the crisis 
.
), I wish we could have a more nuanced conversation about what's actually happening on the ground in Venezuela. Is anyone listening?