Overview
- Defense-linked sources say U.S. forces were ordered to carry out a maritime “quarantine” aimed at stopping Venezuelan oil tankers from departing for at least two months.
- Tanker Trackers estimates roughly 17.5 million barrels of Venezuelan crude, valued at about $900 million, are currently stranded on ships in the Caribbean.
- New deployments to Puerto Rico included C‑130J Super Hercules aircraft, CV‑22 Osprey helicopters and MRAP armored vehicles at Aguadilla airport.
- Recent air operations featured seven KC‑135 Stratotankers launched from MacDill AFB, fighter sorties from Langley, and additional tankers from Las Américas, with some flights conducted with transponders off.
- Chevron remains the only buyer authorized under U.S. Treasury licensing as Caracas condemns the moves as an “imperialist provocation,” and President Trump signals preparations for ground operations against alleged cartels while avoiding a declared invasion for now.