Venezuela denounces US “campaign of aggression” with theft of oil tankers

Tension in the Caribbean Sea has increased in recent days. The United States government captured the oil tanker Centuries last Saturday (20). Before that, on December 10, the oil tanker Skipper was the first oil tanker “stolen”, according to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Last Wednesday (17), the Venezuelan government formalized the request for the UN Security Council to analyze this “continuous aggression by the United States”.

Now, information shows that this Sunday (21), Washington intercepted a third vessel called Bella 1, flying the Panamanian flag, but sanctioned for having already transported Venezuelan oil. According to information from international agencies, the tanker was on its way to the Caribbean country to be loaded with fossil fuel.

Read more: US captures cargo ship and Venezuela reports piracy and robbery

Donald Trump’s government did not say whether or not it captured the Bella 1. According to the The New York Timesthe crew, upon being intercepted, continued on their way, which raises doubts about how this chase is progressing.

On social media, Maduro says that for 25 weeks Venezuela has denounced, confronted and defeated the “campaign of aggression that ranges from psychological terrorism to privateers who robbed oil tankers”.

On Saturday, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez published a government statement in which the US is accused of robbery, kidnapping and piracy.

“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounces and categorically rejects the robbery and kidnapping of a new private ship carrying Venezuelan oil, as well as the forced disappearance of its crew, committed by United States military personnel in international waters. […] The colonialist model that the United States Government intends to impose with these types of practices will fail and will be defeated by the Venezuelan people. Venezuela will continue to advance with its economic growth, based on its 14 engines and the development of its hydrocarbon industry in an independent and sovereign manner,” he said.

Read more: US intercepts Russian oil tanker and expands siege against Venezuela

“These acts will not go unpunished and [a Venezuela] will exercise all corresponding actions, including reporting to the United Nations Security Council, other multilateral organizations and world governments. International Law will prevail and those responsible for these serious facts will answer to justice and history for their criminal conduct”, concluded the Venezuelan government statement released by Delcy.

Mercosur

During the Mercosur summit last Saturday (20), President Lula stated that “an armed intervention in Venezuela would be a humanitarian catastrophe for the hemisphere and a dangerous precedent for the world”.

Brazil and Uruguay did not sign a joint statement from the group calling for the reestablishment of democracy and respect for human rights in Venezuela.

The communiqué initiative was led by Argentina, by Javier Milei, and does not mention US aggression.

Read more: US surrounds Venezuela with greatest military power ever seen in Latin America

In the opinion of Brazilians and Uruguayans, signing such a document would be a demonstration of support for a possible armed intervention by the Americans, which President Lula definitely does not want.

Even in the last phone call between the Brazilian leader and Trump, Lula made himself available to mediate dialogue between them in order to cool the growing tension.