Maduro orders navy to escort oil tankers, risking U.S. conflict amid ongoing sanctions and military operations in the Caribbean.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is challenging the "blockade" imposed by the United States on tanker traffic related to Venezuela's crude oil export terminals. He has ordered the navy to escort oil tankers with warships.
According to the New York Times, this military escort practice has already been implemented on some voyages of tankers heading to Asia. This move increases the risk of potential conflict with the U.S. Navy, which maintains a strong military presence in the Caribbean.
A source speaking to the newspaper indicated that the White House is evaluating how to respond to Venezuelan warships escorting tankers. There are concerns that an armed attempt to stop these vessels, similar to the U.S. Coast Guard's intervention with the tanker named Skipper last week, could escalate into mutual fire rather than a peaceful surrender.
Under international law, a maritime blockade is considered an act of war. However, the U.S. has not formally declared war on Venezuela, nor has a comprehensive naval cordon been officially announced. The measures in place are characterized as a "partial blockade."
According to TankerTrackers.com, commercial vessels and tankers continue to trade with and from Venezuela, including at least one newly arrived tanker. The consultancy firm has identified dozens of tankers subject to U.S. sanctions in Venezuelan waters. It has been reported that 26 of these could be used for export, while 15 are currently loaded with oil and will be closely monitored in the coming days.
As the scope and limits of the blockade imposed by the White House remain unclear, the increasing pressure policy is sparking debate in Washington. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat–New York) stated, "Donald Trump does not have the authority to use military force in the Caribbean without Congressional approval. If such a step is taken, the Senate will introduce a bipartisan resolution to prevent unauthorized use of force. Americans do not want new and endless wars."
Meanwhile, the U.S. military continues operations targeting cocaine smuggling under the "drug terrorism" framework in the waters off Venezuela, Colombia, and Central America, aimed at shipments to Europe and North America. On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that a drug boat in the Eastern Pacific was attacked and destroyed, resulting in the deaths of four individuals.
Source: www.denizhaber.com
