Micah Jonah, February 9, 2026
The United States military has announced the seizure of a Venezuela linked oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, a move Washington says underscores its resolve to enforce an oil blockade against the South American country far beyond the Western Hemisphere.
The Pentagon said the vessel was captured as part of President Donald Trump’s directive to cut off Venezuela’s oil exports, insisting that US forces would pursue sanctioned ships wherever they operate.
According to the Pentagon, the tanker Aquila II was operating in defiance of restrictions imposed on Venezuelan oil shipments. US forces reportedly tracked the vessel from the Caribbean Sea across international waters into the Indian Ocean before carrying out the seizure.
Footage released by US authorities showed armed personnel boarding the tanker from a helicopter, with the Pentagon stating that the operation demonstrated the global reach of the US military.
Shipping records cited by international media indicated that the Panama flagged Aquila II had departed Venezuelan waters in early January carrying about 700,000 barrels of crude oil linked to Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA.
The seizure comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas, following a series of actions by the United States aimed at restricting Venezuela’s oil trade. US officials have said the measures are designed to weaken Venezuela’s leadership and limit revenue from energy exports.
Despite recent moves by Venezuelan authorities to open parts of the oil sector to foreign investment, US forces have continued to intercept vessels linked to the country’s crude exports.
The latest incident highlights the growing reach of geopolitical disputes into global shipping routes, raising fresh questions about energy security, international law and the impact of sanctions on global oil markets.
