US Seizes Oil Tankers and Takes Control of Venezuelan Oil

U.S. military forces boarded the sanctioned oil tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean on February 15, 2026, after tracking the vessel from the Caribbean Sea. The operation was part of a maritime quarantine and blockade ordered by Donald Trump in December 2025 to pressure the Venezuelan government. The Veronica III, which departed Venezuela on January 3 carrying nearly 2 million barrels of oil, was the ninth vessel interdicted in the crackdown and followed the February 9 boarding of the Aquila II. The Panama Maritime Authority noted that the Veronica III's registration had been canceled in December 2024, suggesting the ship may have been flying a false flag.

These maritime actions coincided with a larger shift in U.S. policy following the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3. The United States Department of Defense has sought to deny illicit actors freedom of movement in international waters to restrict their revenue. Concurrently, the U.S. government took control of Venezuela's oil industry, with interim President Delcy Rodríguez agreeing to deliver 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated that controlling these revenues provides the administration with leverage over interim authorities to ensure positive change. While the U.S. has encouraged private investment through new OFAC licenses for companies like Chevron and Shell, a BBC World investigation reports that revenue from sales, including an initial $500 million, has remained under U.S. control. Russia has condemned the interdictions as illegal and warned of potential retaliation against U.S.-flagged vessels.