Venezuela Deploys Military on Oil Tankers Amid US Sanctions
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is deploying military forces on oil tankers carrying Venezuelan crude in response to increasing US sanctions and seizures. The New York Times reported that Maduro’s government plans to use private tankers to store crude oil and find alternative sales routes.
The report highlights that Venezuela has also armed its naval vessels to escort oil tankers and petroleum product carriers. The presence of Venezuelan troops on these ships is seen as a countermeasure against what Caracas describes as US “maritime piracy.” The government aims to enhance protective measures for tankers, particularly those bound for China.
The New York Times noted that this military deployment could complicate US Coast Guard efforts to intercept Venezuelan vessels but also raises the risk of a military confrontation between Washington and Caracas. In the past two weeks, the US has seized two Venezuelan oil tankers and attempted to intercept a third, actions experts have condemned as violations of international law.
