U.S. Orders Military to Focus on Venezuela Oil Blockade for Next Two Months

Overview

• Reuters reports the White House directed forces to prioritize maritime interdictions, with the Coast Guard awaiting reinforcements to attempt boarding a third targeted tanker identified by maritime groups as Bella 1.
• U.S. authorities have seized at least two oil tankers near Venezuela in recent weeks as part of efforts to curb what Washington calls a sanctions‑evading ghost fleet.
• At the UN Security Council, Brazil said the U.S. naval posture violates the UN Charter, urged an immediate halt to the blockade, and offered to facilitate dialogue.
• Venezuela denounced the U.S. actions as extortion and a crime of aggression, and its parliament approved penalties of up to 20 years in prison for supporting tanker seizures.
• Russia and China condemned the measures as illegal, while the U.S. vowed maximum sanctions and increased a reward related to Nicolás Maduro to $50 million.