The US Coast Guard is in 'active pursuit' of a vessel in international waters near Venezuela as tensions in the region continue to escalate.
US authorities have already seized two oil tankers this month - one of them on Saturday. Sunday's pursuit is related to a 'sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion,' a US official said to CBS News.
The vessel, identified as Bella 1, is allegedly operating under a false flag and is subject to a judicial seizure order. The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of using oil money to fund drug-related crime, while Venezuelan officials labelled the tanker seizures as 'piracy.'
According to reports, the Coast Guard attempted to board the Bella 1; however, it fled into the Atlantic Ocean. This tanker is the third targeted by the US in its efforts to curb Venezuela's oil exports, which are integral to its economy.
The actions against these tankers illustrate the US's broader strategy of applying pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government, which has faced increasing scrutiny and isolation in recent years.
Maduro responded to US actions by denouncing them during a speech on Sunday, characterizing the seizures as symptomatic of US 'piracy' and an attempt to control Venezuela's oil wealth, which is among the largest in the world. Following these events, a UN Security Council session is scheduled to discuss what Caracas has termed 'ongoing US aggression.'
