U.S. Southern Command announced on Thursday that American forces have successfully captured yet another oil tanker associated with Venezuela while operating in the Caribbean.
This marks the sixth oil tanker seized in the U.S. efforts against Venezuela’s illicit oil trading activities. In a pre-dawn operation, Marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, with the support of the Department of Homeland Security, launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford and captured the tanker named Veronica. This tanker is reportedly the latest to flout the quarantine of sanctioned vessels instituted by President Trump in the Caribbean, showcasing the ongoing effectiveness of Operation Southern Spear, according to the Southern Command’s statement.
According to the statement, the U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Readiness Group is fully backing these operations, featuring vessels like the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale. “Only properly regulated oil can leave Venezuela,” the statement noted, emphasizing that the Department of the Army will collaborate with various partners to curb illegal activities and enhance security in the Western Hemisphere.
The operation comes at a time when President Trump is expected to meet Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Colina Machado at the White House on Thursday. The tankers seized thus far have either been under U.S. sanctions or are part of a “shadow fleet,” which involves unregulated vessels pretending to leave the country while transporting oil from countries like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela.
Trump also made a strong statement regarding the fate of Venezuela, suggesting that following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, the U.S. would take decisive actions against the country.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Trump mentioned, “time will tell” how long the U.S. plans to govern Venezuela, but he stated it would be “much longer” than a year. Additionally, he indicated that up to 50 million barrels of oil supplied to the U.S. would be sold “immediately,” adding that, “We will rebuild in a very profitable way,” and he expressed a desire to lower oil prices while helping Venezuela financially.
Interestingly, he also shared a manipulated image resembling a Wikipedia page that humorously identified him as the “Acting President of Venezuela” since January 2026.
