00:00In the dark waters near Venezuela,
00:28a high-stakes chase is unfolding. A sanctioned oil tanker, a US interception,
00:35and a message from Washington that could reshape global geopolitics.
00:40The United States is now moving to seize what could be a third Venezuelan-linked oil tanker
00:47in less than two weeks, signaling a sharp escalation under President Donald Trump's
00:54renewed pressure campaign. US officials confirm the Coast Guard is actively pursuing an oil tanker
01:02in international waters near Venezuela. If successful, it would mark the second interception
01:09this weekend and the third overall in recent days. The vessel is accused of being part of
01:16Venezuela's so-called Dark Fleet, allegedly used to evade international sanctions by flying false
01:25flags and masking ownership. According to US sources, the tanker, identified by maritime risk
01:33analysts as Bella 1, is under a judicial seizure order. It has not yet been boarded, but officials
01:41say interceptions can take multiple forms, including close naval and aerial surveillance.
01:49The ship was added to the US Treasury's sanctions list last year due to alleged links to Iran.
01:57Tracking data shows Bella 1 was empty as it approached Venezuelan waters, but records indicate it has
02:05previously transported Venezuelan oil to China and carried Iranian crude in earlier operations.
02:13These movements place the vessel squarely at the center of Washington's efforts to disrupt what it calls
02:20illegal oil trading networks. Last week, President Trump announced what he described as a blockade on
02:28all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. That declaration was followed by a surge in US military
02:37presence across the Caribbean and Pacific regions near South America. Officials said dozens of maritime
02:46strikes and interdictions have already taken place. The first tanker seized under this campaign,
02:53the skipper has now reached US waters near Texas. Because massive crude carriers cannot dock at Houston,
03:02oil transfers are being conducted offshore using smaller vessels. White House officials say the seized
03:10tankers were supplying oil to countries under sanctions. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro insisted that oil
03:18exports will continue. But analysts warn this crackdown could quickly slash Venezuela's revenues,
03:26force output cuts, and rattle global markets. Oil prices are already climbing, proof that this maritime
03:34showdown is being felt far beyond the Caribbean.
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