The Cuban government has responded to the seizure of a second oil tanker in international Caribbean waters, near Venezuela's coastline, a move reportedly carried out by United States forces.
The official response was delivered by Cuba's Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, through a statement shared on X. In his remarks, Rodríguez Parrilla criticized the incident, labeling it as yet another act of "maritime piracy and terrorism" perpetrated by U.S. forces against the oil vessel and its crew.
The Cuban foreign minister claims that this incident exemplifies a pattern of "complete disregard and violation of International Law, Maritime Law, and the freedom of navigation and trade." He also warned the global community about what he perceives as a new U.S. provocation against Venezuela, asserting it aims to intensify aggression towards the Venezuelan territory and seize its natural resources.
Havana's reaction follows reports that the United States intercepted and seized a ship near Venezuela in international waters, an operation led by the U.S. Coast Guard. Three U.S. officials, speaking to Reuters anonymously, confirmed the event, although they did not specify the exact location of the operation.
This incident comes shortly after President Donald Trump declared a "total and complete blockade" on "all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela." This marks the second oil tanker seizure in the area in recent weeks, amidst an escalating U.S. military presence in the region.
Subsequently, the U.S. government released images of the tanker confiscation off the Venezuelan coast. "In a pre-dawn operation this morning on December 20, the U.S. Coast Guard, with assistance from the Department of Defense, detained an oil tanker last docked in Venezuela," revealed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Noem asserted that the U.S. will continue to pursue illicit oil trafficking, linking it to funding narcoterrorism in the area. Reuters further reported that since the initial seizure of a sanctioned tanker, an "effective embargo" has emerged, with vessels loaded with millions of barrels of oil remaining in Venezuelan waters to avoid the risk of confiscation. According to the agency, this has led to a sharp decline in Venezuelan crude oil exports.
Adding to this scenario, the United States intercepted the Bella-1 tanker, sailing under the Panamanian flag, in international waters near Venezuela, which marks the third such incident in recent days. The Bella-1 is associated with Louis Marine Shipholding Enterprises, a company linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. The vessel has been sanctioned since June 2024 by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
This represents the third oil tanker seizure near Venezuela in recent weeks, amidst a significant U.S. military buildup in the area. The described situation is part of President Trump's pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro's government, which includes increasing U.S. military presence and direct actions against oil tankers in the vicinity of Venezuela.
Within this context, Maduro has accused the U.S. of attempting to overthrow him and take control of the country's oil resources.
FAQs on the Seizure of Oil Tankers Near Venezuela
Why did the U.S. seize oil tankers near Venezuela?
The U.S. has seized oil tankers near Venezuela as part of a broader strategy to enforce sanctions and prevent the trafficking of illicit oil, which is believed to finance narcoterrorism in the region.
How has Cuba responded to the tanker seizures?
Cuba has condemned the U.S. actions, labeling them as acts of maritime piracy and terrorism, and warned of a potential escalation in aggression towards Venezuela.
What is the significance of the Bella-1 oil tanker?
The Bella-1 tanker, linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, was sanctioned by the U.S. and is the third vessel seized near Venezuela in recent times, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.