Thu Dec 25 17:04:13 UTC 2025: Summary:
The United States, under President Trump, is enforcing a blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, seizing vessels like the “Skipper” and intercepting others. This action stems from concerns that Venezuela is shipping subsidized oil to Cuba and violating previous sanctions. The U.S. leverages its control over the global financial system, particularly the petrodollar, to enforce these sanctions. Non-compliance can result in significant penalties for banks and companies worldwide. This has led to the emergence of a “shadow fleet” of tankers operating outside of traditional insurance and certification frameworks, with countries like Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and potentially China collaborating to circumvent U.S. control.
News Article:
U.S. Escalates Oil Blockade Against Venezuela, Seizes Tankers
Washington D.C. – December 25, 2025 – The Trump administration has intensified its efforts to cripple the Venezuelan oil industry, announcing a “total and complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving the country. This week alone, the U.S. seized the “Skipper,” an oil tanker carrying nearly two million barrels of crude, and intercepted the Panamanian-flagged “Centuries.”
The U.S. alleges that Venezuela is using these tankers to ship subsidized oil to Cuba, a key ally of President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. Coast Guard also attempted to intercept the “Bella 1”, a tanker sanctioned in 2024 for trading Iranian oil.
These aggressive moves highlight the U.S.’s reliance on its financial dominance to enforce foreign policy. By controlling the dollar, the currency used for most global oil transactions, the U.S. can effectively block access to international markets for sanctioned entities. Banks and companies worldwide, even those not based in the U.S., often comply with U.S. sanctions to maintain access to the American market and the global financial system.
However, these tactics have spurred the rise of a “shadow fleet,” consisting of tankers operating outside the purview of traditional Western insurance and certification. Countries like Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and potentially China are reportedly collaborating to circumvent U.S. control and maintain trade. The U.S.’s decision to initiate a physical blockade suggests that these efforts to evade sanctions have seen some success.
The long-term implications of this escalating economic warfare remain to be seen, as the international community grapples with the U.S.’s assertive use of its financial power and the countermeasures being developed to circumvent it.
First Piper 