Overview
- An anonymous U.S. official said forces have been told to focus almost exclusively on enforcing a maritime quarantine of Venezuelan oil for at least two months.
- The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted two fully laden Venezuelan tankers this month and attempted a third seizure involving the sanctioned vessel Bella‑1, according to multiple reports.
- Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the actions as illegal and likened them to piracy and banditry, and Venezuela publicly thanked Moscow for its support.
- Venezuela released 71 detainees held after the disputed 2024 elections, according to the Committee of Mothers in Defense of the Truth, as Nicolás Maduro renewed an offer of dialogue with the U.S.
- The stepped-up oil interdictions and sanctions enforcement are intensifying regional economic strain, with Cuba facing severe fuel shortages and rolling blackouts reported by experts and local media.