White House Orders Two-Month Oil Quarantine on Venezuela as Tanker Pursuit Continues

Overview

• U.S. forces have seized two sanctioned oil tankers in December and are still pursuing a third vessel identified as Bella 1, which moved into the Atlantic after refusing a boarding near Barbados.
• Coast Guard officials say specialized Maritime Security Response Teams are needed for any new seizure, underscoring limited boarding resources as reinforcements are awaited.
• A White House order instructs the military to focus almost exclusively on enforcing an economic oil quarantine for at least the next two months, with other military options left available.
• Brazil told the UN Security Council the U.S. mobilization and naval blockade violate the UN Charter, offering to facilitate dialogue, while Russia and China condemned the actions as illegal and akin to piracy.
• Venezuela’s National Assembly approved penalties of up to 20 years in prison, along with heavy fines and confiscations, for anyone aiding seizures or blockades, as reporting also notes about 100 deaths from recent U.S. maritime strikes on alleged drug boats.