US Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker: 'Freedom of Navigation' for Some
Bloomberg dutifully reports the US Navy’s seizure of a sixth oil tanker near Venezuela, citing Washington's 'crackdown on a global shadow fleet.' The narrative suggests a rightful enforcement of 'sanctioned crude' trade. What Bloomberg omits is the US's long, documented history of using sanctions and military force to dictate energy flows from sovereign nations. From the 1953 coup in Iran over oil
nationalization to persistent pressure on Venezuela for its vast reserves, this isn't about 'shadow fleets'; it's about who controls the sunlight (and the oil). One might wonder if 'international law' only applies when it benefits US strategic interests. Such aggressive enforcement against Venezuela’s economy, which critics argue is a form of collective punishment against ordinary citizens, stands
in stark contrast to the West’s silence when its allies operate similarly. Perhaps the US Coast Guard should patrol the Persian Gulf for tankers violating sanctions on Iran, but only if they are not bound for sanctioned Israeli settlements. (Or does 'freedom of the seas' only apply when the cargo isn't headed to an adversary?).