US seizes another Venezuelan-linked oil tanker as Venezuela’s interim government promises oil-law reforms

Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
1h ago
US forces seized the oil tanker Veronica in the Caribbean as Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez told parliament that legislation governing the oil sector would be reformed.
US seizes another Venezuelan-linked oil tanker as Venezuela’s interim government promises oil-law reforms
A What happened
US forces seized the oil tanker Veronica in the Caribbean, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the US Coast Guard boarded it early Thursday. The US military said the ship was seized without incident, and Noem said US Marines and sailors from the USS Gerald R Ford participated alongside a Coast Guard tactical team. Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez told parliament that reforms were planned for the Hydrocarbons Law and the anti-blockade law, and said oil funds would go to new fields, workers, and public services. The Trump administration said the seizure was the sixth sanctioned tanker detained as Washington moves to take full control of Venezuelan oil resources.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Trump told oil executives not to deal with Venezuela: Trump said oil executives were dealing with the US directly and that the US did not want them to deal with Venezuela.

  • 2

    Rodriguez linked legal reforms to investment and public spending: Rodriguez said envisioned legal reforms would direct money to new fields, fields without prior investment, and fields without infrastructure, and that oil funds would go to workers and public services.

Takeaways

The US seized the tanker Veronica as the interim Venezuelan government said it would reform oil-sector laws while Trump asserted US control over Venezuela’s oil sector.

Topics

World & Politics Policy & Regulation International Affairs Business & Markets Energy & Commodities Security & Defense

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