When asked about the potential governance of Venezuela by the U.S. government after the apprehension of President Nicolás Maduro, Secretary of State Marco Rubio redirected the conversation towards the enforcement of a U.S. blockade on sanctioned oil tankers. President Donald Trump had initially declared this blockade in December to apply pressure for policy alterations in Venezuela. Rubio clarified on CBS News’ Face the Nation that this blockade is what the president refers to when discussing the administration of Venezuela.
Let’s delve into the background of the blockade, its implications, its legal status, and its effectiveness.
Introduction of the Blockade
On December 16, Trump announced via his social media platform, Truth Social, that Venezuela was under a complete blockade with all sanctioned oil tankers entering or exiting the country. This decision was made following the regime’s classification as a “foreign terrorist organization” due to various illegal activities, including the misappropriation of U.S. assets.
At the time of the announcement, over 30 vessels were on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of sanctioned oil tankers, as reported by the New York Times with data from Tanker Trackers. These vessels are part of a shadow fleet involved in illicit crude oil transport globally.
The Treasury Department emphasized in a news release that the Maduro regime heavily relies on these vessels to conduct sanctionable activities, evade sanctions, and fund destabilizing operations.
Clarification on Terminology
Although Trump labeled it a “blockade,” officials like Rubio refer to it as a “quarantine” targeting illegal actions. Under international law, a blockade signifies an act of war, as explained by Andrew Latham, an international relations professor. While Trump’s use of the term was more colloquial, the technical term for this action is a quarantine, as specified by Latham.
This operation focuses on law enforcement rather than military confrontation, as indicated by Trump’s mention of “sanctioned” tankers, suggesting a legal approach rather than a wartime strategy.
Interception Status
As of now, only two vessels have been intercepted, with one seizure predating Trump’s blockade declaration and the other not being on the sanctioned list. The Skipper, a sanctioned vessel en route to China, was seized on December 10, and the Centuries was boarded on December 20 but was not sanctioned.
Reports suggest that American forces are preparing to intercept another sanctioned vessel, the Marinera, previously known as the Bella 1.
Blockade Evasion
Despite U.S. sanctions, at least 16 oil tankers have managed to evade the blockade by concealing their positions or disabling transmission signals, according to recent reports. The vessels in motion are under U.S. sanctions for transporting Iranian and Russian oil.
Additionally, several oil tankers loaded with Venezuelan crude and fuel have left the country’s waters since the blockade started, sailing without recognized flags or current safety documentation.
Economic Impact
Venezuela heavily relies on oil exports for revenue, but PDVSA’s exports have halted due to the blockade. The state-owned company may need to deepen production cuts as storage facilities reach capacity. The prolonged blockade could lead to a substantial economic downturn, potentially shutting down a significant portion of the country’s oil production.