US Forces Board Second Sanctioned Oil Tanker in Indian Ocean

The US military boarded an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel for thousands of miles, saying it tried to circumvent President Donald Trump’s energy blockade in the Caribbean against sanctioned ships.Author of the article:You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.(Bloomberg) — The US military boarded an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean after tracking the vessel for thousands of miles, saying it tried to circumvent President Donald Trump’s energy blockade in the Caribbean against sanctioned ships. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.The Pentagon, in a post on X Sunday, said US forces conducted a “right-of-visit, maritime interdiction” on the Veronica III without incident. Video footage posted by the department appeared to show US soldiers boarding a helicopter and then positioning themselves aboard the tanker. “We tracked it from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, closed the distance, and shut it down,” the department said, though it didn’t say whether the US had formally seized the vessel.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.The Veronica III, which travels under the Panamanian flag, is subject to US sanctions related to Iran, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.The US imposed in December what the Trump administration has described as an energy quarantine, deploying its Naval fleet to cut off Venezuela’s oil exports and seizing sanctioned oil vessels. That blockade has continued even after a Jan. 3 military strike to remove Nicolas Maduro from power. The interdiction follows a cat-and-mouse chase along the same body of water that culminated in the US military boarding the Aquila II tanker last week, underscoring how far Washington is prepared to go.“Distance does not protect you,” the Defense Department said in Sunday’s post. “International waters are not sanctuary. By land, air, or sea, we will find you and deliver justice.”Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4© 2026 Financial Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.You can manage saved articles in your account.and save up to 100 articles!You can manage your saved articles in your account and clicking the X located at the bottom right of the article.