63 h. ago US seizes sixth sanctioned tanker as it tightens grip on Venezuela’s oil

US forces in the Caribbean Sea have seized another sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration says has ties to Venezuela, part of a broader US effort to take control of the South American country’s oil. The US Coast Guard boarded the tanker, named Veronica, early Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on social media. The ship had previously passed through Venezuelan waters and was operating in defiance of US President Donald Trump’s “established quarantine of...

Events

8 d. ago US seizes tanker near Trinidad amid Venezuelan oil crackdown

The US is in the process of seizing the Olina tanker in the Caribbean near Trinidad in the fifth such interdiction of ships in recent weeks as part of Washington’s efforts to control Venezuelan oil exports, two US officials said on Friday. The Olina, which according to public shipping database Equasis was falsely flying the flag of East Timor, had previously sailed from Venezuela and had returned to the region, said an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter. “The vessel’s AIS...

Events

8 d. ago US seizes fifth tanker as Trump escalates bid to control Venezuela’s oil

The US took control of its fifth oil vessel in recent weeks on Friday in the latest move tied to the Donald Trump administration’s effort to control Venezuelan oil exports. In an early morning operation, a joint US Coast Guard and Navy team launched from the carrier USS Gerald R Ford apprehended the tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea “without incident”, according to a social media post from the US Southern Command. “The Department of War’s Operation Southern Spear is unwavering in its mission to...

Politics

8 d. ago US seizes fifth tanker as Washington escalates bid to control Venezuela’s oil

The US took control of its fifth oil vessel in recent weeks on Friday in the latest move tied to the Donald Trump administration’s effort to control Venezuelan oil exports. Friday’s operation came ahead of a meeting between Trump and American oil executives where the US president sought to convince them to commit to an investment pledge in Venezuela. “At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House,” he said on social media...

Events

1 week ago US seizes 2 Venezuelan sanctioned oil tankers Bella 1 and Sophia in Atlantic, Caribbean

The US has seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela in back-to-back actions in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean, officials said on Wednesday. US European Command announced the seizure of the merchant vessel Bella 1 for “violations of US sanctions” in a social media post. The US had been pursuing the tanker since last month after it tried to evade a US blockade on sanctioned oil vessels around Venezuela. Then, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem revealed that US forces...

Events

1 week ago US says it will take control of Venezuela oil sales indefinitely

Expanding on the US administration’s increasingly robust view of foreign energy and security policy, a senior US official said on Wednesday that Washington expects to take control of future Venezuelan oil sales until further notice and use the proceeds to rebuild the nation’s beleaguered economy. The comments add to the conflicted messaging from US President Donald Trump’s administration on how it plans to run Venezuela following Saturday’s military strike that saw Nicolas Maduro and his wife...

Politics

1 week ago US says it will take control of Venezuela oil sales indefinitely after seizing tankers

Expanding on the US administration’s increasingly robust view of foreign energy and security policy, a senior US official said on Wednesday that Washington expects to take control of future Venezuelan oil sales until further notice and use the proceeds to rebuild the nation’s beleaguered economy. The comments add to the conflicted messaging from US President Donald Trump’s administration on how it plans to run Venezuela following Saturday’s military strike that saw Nicolas Maduro and his wife...

Events

1 week ago US seizes oil tankers as it moves to take control of Venezuela’s oil sales indefinitely

The US captured two oil tankers on the high seas as a senior US official said on Wednesday that Washington expects to take control of future Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely and use the proceeds to help America and rebuild the nation’s beleaguered economy. The seizure of the vessels, including one after a two-week chase, comes as US President Donald Trump’s administration takes an increasingly aggressive approach to foreign energy and security policy. Since Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia...

Events

3 w. ago China, Russia clash with US at UN, scientists on ‘benefits of lard’: SCMP daily highlights

Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China, Russia clash with US at UN over Venezuela oil seizures and naval pressure China accused the United States at the United Nations of violating international law and destabilising the Caribbean region, as Washington defended its seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers and vowed to intensify pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government. 2. Beijing is...

Politics

3 w. ago China, Russia clash with US at UN meeting over Venezuela oil seizures and naval pressure

China accused the United States at the United Nations on Tuesday of violating international law and destabilising the Caribbean region, as Washington defended its seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers and vowed to intensify pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government. Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council requested by Venezuela and backed by China and Russia, Beijing said US actions carried out under the banner of counter-narcotics enforcement amounted to unilateral...

Events

3 w. ago China blasts US seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers: ‘Grossly violates international law’

China blasts US seizure of Venezuelan oil tankers: ‘Grossly violates international law’  thehill.com

Society

3 w. ago China says US broke international law by seizing Venezuelan oil tankers

China accused the United States on Monday of violating international law by seizing oil tankers off Venezuela, as Washington intensified pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government and a senior US official openly suggested that he should be removed from power. At a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the United States “seriously violated international law” by intercepting foreign vessels and reiterated China’s opposition to unilateral...

Society

3 w. ago China says US broke international law by seizing oil tankers off Venezuela

China accused the United States on Monday of violating international law by seizing oil tankers off Venezuela, as Washington intensified pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government and a senior US official openly suggested that he should be removed from power. At a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the United States “seriously violated international law” by intercepting foreign vessels and reiterated China’s opposition to unilateral...

Society

3 w. ago How U.S. oil tanker seizures targeting Venezuela are linked to rising geopolitical tensions with China

How U.S. oil tanker seizures targeting Venezuela are linked to rising geopolitical tensions with China  CNBC

Events

3 w. ago China Slams U.S. for Seizing Venezuela Oil Tanker Bound for China

China Slams U.S. for Seizing Venezuela Oil Tanker Bound for China  StratNews Global

Events

3 w. ago China Says US Violating Law by Seizing Oil Tankers Off Venezuela

China Says US Violating Law by Seizing Oil Tankers Off Venezuela  Yahoo Finance

Events

4 w. ago Venezuela slams ‘international piracy’ after US seizes another vessel

The United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela in international waters, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed on Saturday, a move that comes just days after US President Donald Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela. It is the second time in recent weeks that the US has gone after a tanker near Venezuela amid a large US military build-up in the region. “The United States will continue to pursue the illicit...

Politics

4 w. ago Trump says war with Venezuela remains possible, NBC News reports

US President Donald Trump said he was leaving the possibility of war with Venezuela on the table, according to an interview with NBC News published on Friday. “I don’t rule it out, no,” he told NBC News in a phone interview. Trump also said there would be additional seizures of oil tankers near Venezuelan waters, according to the published interview. On Tuesday, Trump ordered a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in Washington’s latest move to increase...

Politics

4 w. ago Trump leaves war with Venezuela on the table, threatens more seizures, NBC News reports

US President Donald Trump said he was leaving the possibility of war with Venezuela on the table, according to an interview with NBC News published on Friday. “I don’t rule it out, no,” he told NBC News in a phone interview. Trump also said there would be additional seizures of oil tankers near Venezuelan waters, according to the interview. The US seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week. “If they’re foolish enough to be sailing along, they’ll be sailing along back...

Events