The US As a Pirate State ⚓️🇺🇸

The US has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, a ship that was previously sanctioned by the US in 2022 while sailing under another name, in a dramatic operation that further ratchets up tensions between the Trump administration and the government of Venezuela’s president, Maduro. 🚢🔥

Over recent months the US has built up the largest military presence in the region in decades, which includes the USS Gerald R Ford, the world’s newest and largest aircraft carrier. It has more than 4,000 sailors, plus fighter jets and accompanying warships. ✈️🚢

At the same time, the Trump administration has launched a series of deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, which have faced scrutiny in Congress. ⚠️🌊
Some organisations have described the operations as extrajudicial executions.

Donald Trump’s goal remains opaque, but experts largely agree that the overthrow of Maduro’s authoritarian government is the ultimate aim. 🏛🔻

The tanker, identified as Skipper by maritime analysts Vanguard, was a very large crude carrier (VLCC) and is thought to have been carrying about 1.1m barrels of oil, loaded in Venezuela’s main oil port last week. 🛢📦

The tanker was falsely flying Guyana’s flag, the country’s maritime authority has said. 🚩
The flag of a ship indicates where it has been registered and, under international law, ships must comply with the maritime law of that country when out at sea.

However in recent years, there has been a growth in vessels sailing under false flags, allowing them to circumvent safety regulations and international sanctions. ⚓️🕵️‍♂️

Tracking data shows that Skipper was previously sanctioned by the US in 2022 while sailing under another name, Adisa.
It was accused of belonging to the so-called shadow fleet, which smuggles oil on behalf of Iran in order to avoid US sanctions. 🌑🛢

It also made multiple trips to Venezuela and Iran in recent years, according to Marine Traffic, which provides real-time tracking of ships. 🌍📡

Public records show that the vessel is owned by Triton Navigation Corp, which was sanctioned by the US in 2022 for its involvement in transporting oil for Iran. 📑⚠️

The dissemination of such videos will probably be chalked up as a propaganda win by the Trump administration, while continuing to pile pressure on Maduro. 🎥📣

Other experts have suggested that the seizure of the Skipper will act as a further brake on Venezuela’s oil industry by further driving up the costs of exporting. 📈🛢

Venezuela has already had to deeply discount its crude oil exports to its main buyer, China, due to growing competition with sanctioned oil from Russia and Iran. 🇨🇳🇷🇺

The real and present threat of US operations against sanctioned oil tankers – as demonstrated on Wednesday – will force shadow tanker owners to demand higher costs for freighting Venezuelan oil, as an insurance against seizures. 💸🚢

#venezuela #oil #tanker #coast #maduro

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