Summary
The U.S. military boarded an oil tanker called Veronica III in the Indian Ocean, after tracking it from the Caribbean. The tanker is believed to be involved in helping Venezuela avoid U.S. sanctions on oil exports. This is part of a broader effort by the U.S. to enforce these sanctions and control Venezuelan oil shipments.
Key Facts
- The U.S. intercepted and boarded the Panamanian-flagged tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean.
- The U.S. military tracked the tanker from the Caribbean, suspecting it of violating U.S. sanctions on Venezuela.
- The operation is part of U.S. efforts to crack down on sanctioned oil exports from Venezuela.
- The Pentagon described the boarding as a "right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding."
- The Veronica III was carrying 1.9 million barrels of crude oil and is under U.S. Treasury sanctions.
- The U.S. has seized at least seven oil tankers since last year to enforce sanctions.
- The tanker has been reportedly involved in transporting oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela since 2023.
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers related to Venezuela in December.
