US Seizes Another Oil Tanker In Caribbean As ‘Donroe Doctrine’ Steams Ahead
The foreign policy move to dismantle the so-called “dark fleet” of crude oil tankers moving Venezuela’s oil around the world, through President Trump’s gunboat diplomacy to secure the Western Hemisphere, was once again on full display on Friday morning.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Coast Guard forces boarded a fifth oil tanker, Olina, as part of a widening blockade targeting sanctioned dark-fleet vessels.
Olina, previously sanctioned for transporting Russian oil, was last tracked near Venezuela.
OLINA (9282479) belongs to an extremely exclusive club of naughty tankers. pic.twitter.com/9yKRziKvat
— TankerTrackers.com, Inc. (@TankerTrackers) January 9, 2026
The seizure of Olina is likely to further ignite tensions between Washington and Moscow, days after the US seized Marinera (formerly Bella 1) in the North Atlantic. Russia previously told the US not to seize Bella 1, which was shadowed by Russian Navy assets.
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The Trump administration is using these seizures to dismantle Venezuela’s dark fleet of about 1,000 tankers that evade sanctions – a network that carries about 70% of the country’s oil exports, much of which ends up in Asia.
Marco Rubio said earlier this week that the blockade provides maximum leverage over Caracas, while also warning Russia, China, and Iran against backing Venezuela. This gunboat diplomacy is supported by the U.S. Navy, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, and backed by Justice Department resources, signaling that more tanker seizures are just ahead.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 01/09/2026 – 08:45
