Venezuelan Tankers Return Amid U.S. Oil Seizures
Four tankers that departed Venezuela in early January with their transponders disabled have made their way back to the country’s waters. This development follows a series of U.S. tanker seizures and the Trump administration’s intensified efforts to secure Venezuelan oil following the arrest of dictator Nicolás Maduro. Reports indicate that most of these vessels were loaded upon their return.
U.S. Military Actions and Tanker Returns
According to reports from Reuters, the four tankers, which had been operating in “dark mode,” were tracked by the state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and monitoring service TankerTrackers.com. A flotilla of around a dozen vessels, including both loaded and empty ships, had left Venezuelan waters last month, despite a U.S. blockade that has been in place since mid-December.
Among the vessels, the supertanker M Sophia, flying the Panamanian flag, was intercepted by U.S. forces earlier this week, along with another tanker, the Olina, which bears the flag of São Tomé and Príncipe. The Olina was seized during a predawn operation conducted by U.S. Southern Command, which reported that Marines and sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear executed the mission in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. Following the operation, the Olina was returned to Venezuela, as confirmed by PDVSA.
The Olina, previously known as the Minerva M, had been sanctioned by the U.S. for its involvement in transporting Russian oil. The U.S. Southern Command emphasized the strength of its military presence, stating that operations like this are supported by the full capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group.
Trump’s Push for Venezuelan Oil Investment
In a related development, three additional vessels from the flotilla—the Panama-flagged Merope, Cook Islands-flagged Min Hang, and Panama-flagged Thalia III—were spotted returning to Venezuelan waters late Friday. This comes as President Trump hosted nearly two dozen oil executives at the White House to discuss potential investments in Venezuela following the U.S. military’s successful capture of Maduro. The executives represented major companies, including Chevron, Exxon, and Shell.
During the meeting, Trump assured the executives of “total safety” and “total security” for their operations in Venezuela, emphasizing that the situation has changed significantly. He expressed confidence that the U.S. would benefit from the acquisition of Venezuelan oil, predicting it would lead to substantial wealth, lower taxes, and job creation for both Americans and Venezuelans.
Days prior, Trump announced that Venezuela would be transferring between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the U.S. He stated that the oil would be sold at market price, with proceeds managed to benefit both the people of Venezuela and the United States.
