Hey fam, big news from the Caribbean 🌊: U.S. forces recently seized a massive oil tanker off Venezuela's coast, marking the largest naval interception ever, President Donald Trump confirmed.
What happened? According to a senior U.S. official, the military carried out a "judicial enforcement action" on a stateless vessel that was docked in Venezuela. Translation: they legally took control of a giant tanker 🚢🛢️.
Markets felt it in real time. Brent crude prices jumped nearly 1% in London trading after word got out—so if you've been tracking fuel costs at home, you know how fast prices can ripple around the world.
And that's not all. Trump has been doubling down on plans to strike drug traffickers on land in the Caribbean very soon, raising the stakes even higher. Since last September, the Pentagon has hit at least 22 suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, with reports of 87 casualties onboard.
Right now, about a dozen U.S. warships—including the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier—and around 15,000 troops are patrolling the Caribbean Sea. It's the biggest U.S. military presence there in over 30 years 🚀⚓️.
Unsurprisingly, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro slammed the operation, calling it an attempt to overthrow his government and expand U.S. influence in Latin America.
Bottom line: with oil prices on the move and military tension ratcheting up, this story is one to watch. We'll keep you posted as it develops 🌐🔍.
Reference(s):
U.S. seizes oil tanker off coast of Venezuela, Trump confirms
cgtn.com
