The US Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a third oil tanker near Venezuela accused of evading sanctions by carrying Venezuelan oil under a false flag. This follows recent US seizures of two other tankers, one flagged to Panama but carrying sanctioned PDVSA oil. The US alleges Venezuela uses oil funds to support drug-related crime and has intensified sanctions and military presence in the Caribbean. Venezuela condemns the US actions as theft and plans to raise complaints at the UN Security Council and other multilateral forums. The US aims to change the Venezuelan regime's status quo, alleging links to narcotics trafficking, which Caracas denies. These dynamics reflect growing US efforts to control Venezuelan oil exports and influence regional stability.