US Seizes Tanker Over Blockade You Didn’t Know Existed
The US Department of Justice recently announced the seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker, the 'Neftesyany,' alleging it illegally transported sanctioned Venezuelan oil. This action is presented as a firm stance against evasion, but what mainstream media omits is the unilateral nature of these 'sanctions' and 'blockades.' Venezuela isn't just 'sanctioned'; the US has been actively engaged in
economic warfare, including freezing billions in assets since 2019, according to Treasury Department records, crippling the nation's capacity for trade. This isn't about international law; it's about geopolitical muscle flexing, much like the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis or the ongoing blockade of Gaza, where the definitions of 'international law' seem to adjust based on who's doing the blockading.
One might wonder: when exactly did the US gain the authority to enforce its domestic foreign policy globally through military force, especially when it conveniently ignores similar 'violations' by its allies? This seizure isn't justice; it's a blunt instrument of economic coercion, masquerading as righteous law enforcement, designed to starve a sovereign nation into submission. The irony is, such
actions often fuel the very antagonisms they claim to combat.