Pentagon Says Ship Defied Quarantine on Sanctioned Vessels
U.S. military forces boarded an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking it from the Caribbean, the Pentagon said Monday. Officials said the vessel ran from a U.S.-imposed quarantine on sanctioned ships linked to Venezuelan oil trade.
U.S. forces boarded and inspected the ship, named Aquila II, without incident, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. He accused the vessel of breaking Washington’s oil enforcement orders.
Long Pursuit Across Oceans
The military followed the tanker thousands of miles from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean before boarding it. The Pentagon shared video of servicemembers approaching the ship from a helicopter.
Officials said Aquila II defied a “quarantine of sanctioned vessels” that Trump’s administration put in place to control Venezuelan oil exports. The U.S. has seized at least seven such tankers since last year as part of that effort.
Part of Broader Enforcement of Oil Blockade
The Trump administration has tightened control over Venezuelan crude, the country’s key export. U.S. officials argue this helps limit transfers of sanctioned oil and related revenue.
Earlier this year, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a raid on Caracas. After that, Washington expanded its blockade to patrol not only the Caribbean but also international waters far from Latin America.
The Pentagon said its forces would enforce the quarantine “even in oceans halfway around the world,” warning that sanctioned vessels cannot escape U.S. tracking.
Impact on Venezuelan Oil Exports
Analysis shows that Venezuelan oil shipments have dropped sharply under the blockade. Only a few vessels linked to major U.S. partners, such as Chevron, continue to operate normally. Loading rates for Venezuelan exports fell to nearly half in January compared with recent months.
Trade data indicate Aquila II left Venezuelan waters in early January with about 700,000 barrels of heavy crude oil bound for Asia, though the Pentagon did not confirm the cargo at the time of boarding.
