分类： politics

United States military forces have executed another strategic seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, marking the fifth such interception in recent weeks as part of the Trump administration’s escalating campaign against Venezuelan oil exports. The targeted vessel, identified as the Olina, was apprehended in a pre-dawn operation conducted jointly by Marines and naval personnel in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.

According to US Southern Command officials, the Olina had departed Venezuelan waters while attempting to evade US naval forces. The vessel had been sailing under a false flag registered to Timor-Leste and had its location tracker disabled for 52 days prior to interception, as reported by maritime risk firm Vanguard Tech. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem characterized the vessel as another ‘ghost fleet’ tanker suspected of transporting embargoed oil.

The operation continues the US government’s multi-front effort to dismantle what officials describe as a ‘dark fleet’ of over 1,000 vessels transporting sanctioned and illicit oil globally. The Olina itself had been previously sanctioned in January under the name Minerva M for allegedly helping finance Russia’s war in Ukraine through oil transportation.

This latest seizure follows two additional tanker interceptions earlier this week in the North Atlantic and Caribbean, including the Russian-flagged Marinera captured with support from the UK Royal Navy. US authorities have declared these vessels stateless due to fraudulent flag representation, invoking United Nations maritime provisions that permit boarding of such ships.

Concurrently, US diplomats have initiated exploratory talks in Caracas regarding potential re-establishment of diplomatic relations, which were severed by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in 2019. The Trump administration has announced plans to redirect proceeds from seized oil shipments—estimated at 50 million barrels worth $2.8 billion—to benefit the Venezuelan people through market-rate sales controlled by US authorities.

In a significant geopolitical shift, the United States and Venezuela have commenced exploratory talks aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations after years of heightened tensions. The development follows a high-stakes intervention by U.S. military forces that resulted in the capture and extradition of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to face drug trafficking charges in New York.

A specialized delegation of American diplomats and security personnel arrived in Caracas to assess the potential reopening of the U.S. Embassy, which was shuttered in 2019 during the Trump administration’s previous term. The State Department confirmed the preliminary mission, characterizing it as an initial step toward reestablishing formal diplomatic channels.

Venezuela’s acting government under President Delcy Rodríguez simultaneously announced plans to dispatch its own delegation to the United States, though specific timelines remain undisclosed. Such travel would necessitate special sanctions waivers from the U.S. Treasury Department, highlighting the complex regulatory hurdles facing normalization efforts.

Rodríguez finds herself navigating competing pressures—addressing Washington’s demands while maintaining support from military hardliners furious over Maduro’s capture. Her public statements revealed this delicate balancing act, simultaneously condemning U.S. actions as “grave, criminal, illegal, and illegitimate aggression” while advocating diplomacy as the optimal path to secure Maduro’s eventual return and protect Venezuelan sovereignty.

The diplomatic overture represents a dramatic reversal from 2019, when the Trump administration recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate president and closed its Caracas embassy, relocating diplomatic operations to Bogotá, Colombia. The current engagement continues a pattern of cautious re-engagement that began last February when Trump envoy Richard Grenell met with Maduro, resulting in the release of six detained Americans.

Underlying the diplomatic maneuvering remains the strategic importance of Venezuela’s oil reserves, the world’s largest, which have long been an objective of U.S. energy policy. The normalization process signals potential opportunities for American energy companies while testing Rodríguez’s ability to reconcile diplomatic pragmatism with ideological commitments to the Maduro legacy.

In a development that has generated both optimism and profound disappointment, Venezuela’s government has released merely nine detainees despite earlier promises of a substantial prisoner liberation. This modest figure represents just over 1% of the 811 individuals that Caracas-based human rights organization Foro Penal identifies as being detained for political reasons in the country.

The releases, which included five Spanish citizens, two political activists, and two prominent opposition figures, occurred against the backdrop of a transformed political landscape following the dramatic capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces. The developments have created a complex atmosphere where cautious hope mingles with enduring frustration among families of those still imprisoned.

Outside El Rodeo prison in Guatire, approximately one hour east of Caracas, relatives maintained vigil throughout Friday, forming impromptu support networks while sharing resources and information. The emotional toll was visible as hope gradually gave way to despair for many waiting families. Noirelys Morillo, who traveled ten hours to await her brother’s potential release, exemplified the determination of relatives: “We’re going to stay here until we receive him.”

The prisoner releases are widely interpreted as a confidence-building measure by interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s administration, signaling potential willingness to engage with international partners. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly acknowledged the releases, characterizing them as responsive to Washington’s requests.

However, human rights organizations have expressed profound dissatisfaction with the limited scope of the releases. Justice, Encounter, and Forgiveness, a Venezuelan advocacy group, emphasized that “freedom cannot remain in statements: it must materialize in verifiable facts.”

A striking dimension of the situation emerged through accounts of prisoners’ complete isolation from external developments. Shakira Ibarreto, during a scheduled visit with her detained father Miguel, discovered that inmates remained unaware of Maduro’s capture and the subsequent political transformation in Venezuela. Prison authorities had abruptly discontinued the customary state television broadcasts that typically provide inmates with controlled information.

The situation continues to evolve as families maintain their vigil and the international community monitors whether these initial releases will develop into a more comprehensive prisoner liberation initiative under Venezuela’s new leadership.

In a significant political development, the Venezuelan government has commenced the release of individuals identified as political prisoners. BBC correspondent Norberto Paredes reported from outside the notorious ‘El Helicoide’ detention facility in Caracas, where the initial releases are underway.

This prison complex, formally known as the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) headquarters, has long been criticized by human rights organizations for housing political dissidents under questionable legal circumstances. The releases appear to follow through on diplomatic commitments made during recent negotiations between government representatives and opposition parties in Barbados.

The carefully orchestrated prisoner release operation represents a potential thaw in Venezuela’s prolonged political stalemate. International observers are monitoring these developments as possible confidence-building measures ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The government’s actions may signal willingness to address longstanding human rights concerns while opposition figures cautiously welcome what could be the beginning of broader democratic reforms.

This development occurs amid complex geopolitical dynamics, including recently eased U.S. sanctions on Venezuela’s oil industry in exchange for electoral guarantees. The prisoner releases could potentially pave the way for more comprehensive political negotiations in a country grappling with economic challenges and international scrutiny over its democratic processes.

WASHINGTON — In a strategic pivot following the military operation that ousted Nicolás Maduro, President Donald Trump convened top oil industry executives at the White House to champion a massive $100 billion private investment initiative aimed at revitalizing Venezuela’s crippled energy infrastructure. The Friday meeting marked a dramatic shift from military action to economic opportunity, with Trump positioning Venezuela’s vast petroleum reserves as a prime target for American energy corporations.

The administration’s aggressive posture includes seizing tankers carrying Venezuelan crude and assuming control over global sales of 30-50 million barrels of previously sanctioned oil. Trump personally assured skeptical executives of “total safety” in potential ventures, emphasizing they would be “dealing with us directly and not dealing with Venezuela at all.” This unprecedented arrangement would see the U.S. government acting as intermediary for energy investments in a foreign nation.

Despite presidential assurances, industry leaders expressed significant reservations. ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods characterized Venezuela as “un-investable” under current frameworks, citing the need for comprehensive legal overhauls and durable investment protections. The company’s assets were seized twice previously in the country, reflecting the challenging operational environment.

The mobilization forms part of Trump’s broader effort to curb gasoline prices, merging assertive presidential power with economic spectacle ahead of election season. Beyond domestic considerations, the president presented the intervention as preempting Chinese or Russian control of Venezuelan resources, stating: “If we didn’t do this, China or Russia would have done it.”

In parallel diplomatic developments, both nations are exploring restored relations, with U.S. officials conducting preliminary assessments for reopening the Caracas embassy. The administration also announced upcoming meetings with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, signaling complex regional realignments following Maduro’s ouster.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright projected optimism post-meeting, noting “tremendous interest” from attendees and suggesting production could triple to 3 million barrels daily within 8-12 years. The assemblage included Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Shell, and international firms Trafigura, Eni, and Repsol, representing global stakes in Venezuela’s energy future.