US Frees 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker, Cries Foul at Venezuelan Oil
When The Independent spots a 'shadow fleet' tanker, the Marinera , formerly seized by the US and linked to Venezuelan oil, off the Scottish coast, it reads like a thrilling maritime mystery. The underlying narrative, of course, is the nefariousness of nations skirting US sanctions. But let's connect some dots: the US, which once 'seized' this specific tanker's cargo, has also, at various opportune
moments, eased sanctions on Venezuelan oil to 'stabilize markets' (read: keep gas prices manageable before an election). So, is it a shadow fleet, or simply a convenient 'don't ask, don't tell' mechanism for Western consumers? This isn't about upholding international law; it's about controlling global supply chains and weaponizing economics. Russia, Iran, Venezuela—these 'shadow fleets' become
suddenly less shadowy when Western demand for cheap energy spikes, or when geopolitical chess pieces need rearranging. One might almost wonder if 'sanctioned' oil just gets a price cut rather than truly disappearing. The hypocrisy is, shall we say, less opaque than the darkest oil tanker at midnight.