The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing a Venezuela-linked oil tanker, Bella 1, which has refused boarding despite being under U.S. sanctions. Washington has ordered a de facto blockade of sanctioned vessels tied to Venezuela, escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. While the U.S. Navy has a heavy military presence in the Caribbean, only the Coast Guard has the legal authority to board and seize civilian ships.
Why It Matters
The pursuit exposes a critical gap between U.S. policy ambitions and enforcement capacity. The Coast Guard has limited specialist teams capable of forcibly boarding non-compliant vessels, highlighting operational constraints as the Trump administration intensifies sanctions enforcement against Venezuela’s oil exports.
- U.S. Coast Guard – Responsible for boarding and seizures but facing severe resource and readiness shortages.
- Trump administration – Driving a tougher sanctions strategy against Venezuela.
- Venezuela (Maduro government) – Targeted by U.S. efforts to curb oil revenue.
- Maritime security firms & shipping industry – Monitoring rising risks for vessels operating near sanctioned waters.
What’s Next
The Coast Guard is awaiting the arrival of additional specialist boarding teams before deciding whether to seize Bella 1. U.S. officials say the vessel remains under active pursuit, though authorities may still opt not to board. The episode is likely to fuel renewed debate in Washington over Coast Guard funding, readiness, and its expanding role in sanctions enforcement.
With information from an exclusive Reuters report.
