US approaches new oil tanker that defied blockade in Venezuela

White House officials informed the The Wall Street Journal that the Americans made the approach during the early hours of the morning and continued to monitor other vessels that were trying to circumvent the blockade imposed on sanctioned oil tankers seeking to leave or enter South American territory.

According to sources, the tanker targeted by US forces was identified by the name Olina, but previously used the name Minerva M. The vessel was sanctioned by the US for its role in transporting Russian oil.

This is the second oil tanker linked to Russia that has been boarded this week, a situation that could worsen tensions between Washington and Moscow.

The ship approached this Friday had a Timor-Leste flag and the last time it transmitted its position was in mid-November, near the coast of Venezuela, according to Marine Traffic, a global ship tracking service, which added that it was sailing under a false flag.

These maritime operations are used by the Trump administration to pressure Venezuela’s interim regime and take out of operation the so-called “ghost fleet” of oil tankers, linked to Russia, China and Iran, which presents itself as an alternative for these countries to evade Western sanctions through the use of false flags to export oil.

Currently, about 70% of Venezuela’s oil exports depend on vessels subject to US sanctions to circumvent US sanctions imposed on its oil industry.