U.S. Seizes Venezuela-linked Tanker Amid High-Stakes Diplomacy

The United States has seized a sixth Venezuela-linked tanker, escalating its efforts against the Venezuelan oil trade. This action coincides with a meeting between President Trump and Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. The U.S. is strengthening control over oil shipments to influence Venezuela's future.

The United States has seized another Venezuela-linked tanker, according to officials speaking to Reuters on Thursday. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump prepared to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. The operation represents the sixth vessel target since mid-December, focusing on ships carrying Venezuelan oil.

The pre-dawn seizure of the Aframax tanker Veronica took place in the Caribbean, confirmed by the U.S. military's Southern Command. The tanker was accused of violating Trump's quarantine on sanctioned vessels. The ship had previously left Venezuelan waters empty in early January, according to PDVSA and TankerTrackers.com.

In a broader move, the U.S. aims to control oil shipments in and from Venezuela, allegedly part of a strategy to rebuild Venezuela's oil sector. The U.S. government has filed court warrants to seize additional tankers linked to the Venezuelan oil trade, consolidating its influence over the country's energy resources.

(With inputs from agencies.)