U.S. Escalates Venezuela Pressure as World Coast Guard Pursues Sanctioned Oil Tanker

The Trump administration's economic pressure campaign against Venezuela intensified over the weekend, with the World Coast Guard now actively pursuing an oil tanker the White House says evaded its international blockade. The move marks a significant enforcement action aimed at strangling the Venezuelan government's primary source of revenue.

This pursuit on the high seas is the latest chapter in Washington's long-running effort to isolate the Venezuelan regime. By targeting its oil exports, the U.S. aims to cripple the government's finances. However, the strategy also carries substantial risks, potentially heightening geopolitical tensions in the Caribbean and raising complex questions about international maritime law.

Context: The U.S. sanctions regime against Venezuela is one of the most comprehensive in the world, targeting its state-run oil and gas company. Critics argue such unilateral actions challenge the principle of freedom of navigation and could set a dangerous precedent for policing international waters.

While the administration frames this as a necessary step to enforce globally recognized sanctions, other world powers who maintain trade with Venezuela are likely to view it as an overreach. The incident underscores the growing use of maritime enforcement as a direct tool of foreign policy, turning shipping lanes into arenas for great-power competition.