US Targets Third Venezuelan Oil Tanker as Trump Expands Blockade - Geopolitical Pressure Mounts

Washington tightens the screws—again. The Trump administration just slapped sanctions on another Venezuelan oil vessel, marking the third tanker targeted in an escalating maritime blockade. This isn't just about oil; it's a financial stranglehold playing out on the high seas.

The Sanctions Playbook

Forget subtle diplomacy. This move follows a clear pattern: identify, isolate, immobilize. Each tanker added to the list represents another artery cut from Caracas's economic lifeblood. The goal? Crank up the pressure until the regime cracks or the economy does first.

Energy Markets on Edge

Global traders are watching the coordinates, not just the headlines. Every sanctioned ship translates to tighter physical supply and another layer of risk premium baked into crude prices. It's a stark reminder that in the age of economic warfare, tanker tracking data can be as volatile as any crypto chart.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't contained to the Caribbean. The strategy signals a willingness to weaponize dollar dominance and global shipping networks. For nations watching from the sidelines, it's a live case study in how traditional financial power gets projected—and why some are desperately seeking alternatives. After all, nothing makes you appreciate a decentralized ledger like watching a sovereign nation's fleet get digitally blacklisted by a single government.

The blockade expands, the stakes climb, and the world's old-school commodity traders are getting a masterclass in the kind of systemic risk crypto natives eat for breakfast. Talk about a volatile asset class.

TLDR

• US Coast Guard boarded the Centuries tanker in the Caribbean on Saturday carrying 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude
• US forces are pursuing a second vessel, the Bella 1, which was heading to Venezuela
• This marks the third tanker targeted by the US within weeks as part of Trump’s blockade on Venezuela
• Ukraine hit a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Mediterranean with drones for the first time
• Oil prices rose to around $61 per barrel for Brent crude following the news

Oil prices moved higher on Monday as the United States escalated its enforcement actions against Venezuela’s oil exports. The increase comes after US forces intercepted their third tanker in recent weeks.

The US Navy has seized a third oil tanker NEAR Venezuela.

It is known that the sanctioned tanker Bella 1, which was sailing under the Panamanian flag, was heading to Venezuela to load oil, but the US blockade turned out to be stronger.

See the latest updates with… pic.twitter.com/LBB9kta6xG

— The Battlefield (@TTheBattlefield) December 21, 2025

The US Coast Guard boarded the Centuries tanker in the Caribbean Sea on Saturday. The vessel was carrying approximately 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil at the time of the boarding.

US forces are also pursuing another ship called the Bella 1. The vessel was en route to Venezuela when authorities began tracking it.

Brent crude prices climbed to around $61 per barrel following the news. The commodity had experienced two consecutive weekly declines before this uptick.

President TRUMP has made Venezuela a focus of his administration’s foreign policy. Washington designated the Maduro government as a foreign terrorist organization.

The US government accuses Venezuela’s regime of involvement in drug trafficking. The designation allows for broader enforcement actions against the country’s key revenue sources.

Venezuela’s Oil Industry Under Pressure

Venezuela holds the world’s largest crude oil reserves. Despite this resource wealth, the country’s oil production and exports have declined over recent years.

Most Venezuelan oil exports currently go to China. The country now accounts for less than 1% of global oil demand.

The US blockade aims to cut off oil revenue to the Maduro government. This strategy focuses on intercepting tankers carrying Venezuelan crude to international markets.

Russian Oil Transport Also Targeted

Geopolitical tensions affecting oil supplies extended beyond Venezuela. Ukraine struck a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea using drones.

This marked the first time Ukraine has hit a Russian oil vessel in the Mediterranean. The country also conducted strikes on Lukoil facilities in the Caspian Sea region.

Russia is a member of OPEC+, the producer group that coordinates output levels. Any disruption to Russian oil transport could affect global supply calculations.

Market Conditions and Price Trends

Oil prices have fallen approximately 20% over the course of 2025. The decline stems from oversupply conditions in the global market.

Both OPEC+ members and non-aligned producers increased their output during the year. This happened while demand growth slowed in major consuming countries.

The recent geopolitical developments have provided some support for prices. The supply risks from Venezuela and Russia helped establish a price floor.

The Bella 1 was reportedly sending distress signals as it traveled northeast from the Caribbean into the Atlantic Ocean.