U.S. Navy Plays Pirate: Boarding Unsanctioned Tanker 'Just Because'

KEY POINTS

•The U.S. military boarded a Venezuelan oil tanker not on the sanctions list early Saturday, echoing its December 10 Skipper vessel seizure.
•This operation serves as a pointed signal to Nicolás Maduro, who is labeled a 'narco-terrorist' and is heavily sanctioned by the U.S.
•Following Trump’s December 17 blockade announcement, Venezuela sent two non-sanctioned oil vessels, one escorted by its navy, challenging U.S. maritime enforcement.

In an epic maritime soap-opera, the U.S. military decided early last Saturday to board a Venezuelan oil tanker not even blacklisted by sanctions – because nothing says 'freedom' like an uninvited ship visit! This marks the second such comedy of errors following the December 10 seizure of the 'Skipper.' Sources revealed it’s a direct message to Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan president dubbed a 'narco-terrorist' and America's facial punching bag. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump doubled down December 17 with a blockade threatening almost all Venezuelan crude carriers as a subtle way to keep everyone guessing who's next. And to spice things up, Maduro launched two non-sanctioned vessels with at least one protected by Venezuela’s naval squadron – basically, a sea battle arranged like a high-stakes bar fight. The U.S. wants everyone to know it’s ready to interdict at will, because nothing screams diplomacy like a giant armada enforcing vague rules at gunpoint. In conclusion, who wouldn’t want to risk hours of paperwork and possibly international incidents to ship oily black gold? Complete chaos, all for the cause!

Share the Story

(1 of 3)

Mockingbird News

@MockingbirdNews · now

When the U.S. Navy boards a non-sanctioned Venezuelan tanker, diplomacy sounds suspiciously like an awkward middle school bully showdown in the Atlantic.

170/280 charactersReady to post