Overview
- Homeland Security confirmed the Coast Guard seized the tanker Centuries in international waters with military support, after it had loaded about 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude under a Panamanian flag en route to China, according to TankerTrackers.
- AFP and sanctions experts reported Centuries was not on a U.S. sanctions list, while U.S. officials described it as a false‑flag “shadow fleet” vessel, sharpening legal questions over the seizure and ownership reportedly tied to China.
- U.S. media say the Coast Guard is pursuing additional tankers, with AFP citing the Bella 1 as a target under a court seizure order and long‑standing U.S. sanctions for alleged Iran/Hezbollah links; the status of any new interdiction remains developing.
- Caracas denounced the actions as international piracy and alleged crew abductions, said it will take the case to the UN Security Council, and highlighted support from allies such as Iran, as regional leaders split with Argentina’s Milei praising U.S. pressure and Brazil’s Lula warning of war.
- Venezuelan crude exports have fallen since the first tanker was taken, U.S. forces have inserted Coast Guard teams by Army helicopter, and a White House economic official said the seized tankers operated on the black market with limited impact on U.S. fuel prices.