High Seas Hegemony: The US, Oil, and an Invisible Line
Reports indicate US military forces boarded the oil tanker Veronica III in the Indian Ocean, alleging its ties to Venezuelan crude and a violation of what the Pentagon termed 'President Trump’s quarantine.' This action, far from Venezuelan territorial waters, is presented as a routine enforcement of sanctions. Yet, this narrative conveniently sidesteps the legal intricacies and historical
precedent. Washington’s unilateral sanctions against Venezuela, imposed since 2017, are not universally recognized under international law. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures, Alena Douhan, has consistently called for an end to such policies, citing their devastating effect on the Venezuelan population and their dubious legality when
enacted without Security Council approval. This act of seizure in international waters raises profound questions about the limits of sovereign power and maritime rights. Contrast this naval intervention with the conspicuous absence of such action against, say, the US-allied tankers routinely traversing contested waters or supplying states accused of widespread human rights abuses. This double
standard exposes a pattern: the 'rules-based order' is often a euphemism for American economic and geopolitical dominance, especially when it comes to controlling global energy flows. The forceful interception of a vessel connected to a nation resisting US policy is not merely an enforcement action; it's a stark demonstration of imperial reach. This maneuver signals a clear message to any nation