Pentagon to Detain Venezuelan Tankers: US Demands Return of Assets.

US to Continue Detaining Venezuelan Oil Tankers

According to ТСН: Defense Secretary Pete Genset confirmed that the United States will continue to detain oil tankers leaving Venezuela or heading to its ports until local authorities return 'all stolen American assets.'

In his statement, he emphasized that US President Donald Trump clearly expressed Washington's position regarding sanctions policy towards Caracas.

'President Trump made it clear: the blockade of sanctioned oil tankers departing from Venezuela or heading towards it will remain in effect until the criminal gang of Maduro returns all stolen American assets,' Genset wrote.

The US Secretary of Defense stressed that the Department of Defense, together with the Coast Guard, will continue maritime operations to intercept vessels as part of Operation 'Southern Vigilance.'

'We will relentlessly carry out sea interceptions to dismantle illegal criminal networks. Violence, drugs, and chaos will not prevail in the Western Hemisphere,' the US Secretary of Defense emphasized.

Earlier, it became known that the US Coast Guard intercepted and seized an oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela. It was also reported that the guards took control of a tanker that was in these waters near the Venezuelan coast.

It should be noted that President Donald Trump announced the implementation of a complete and total blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela's ports.

The situation around Venezuela remains tense, and US actions aim to curb illegal trade and the return of assets that, according to US authorities, were stolen. This decision further complicates relations between Washington and Caracas, continuing the pressure policy on the Maduro regime.