US Coast Guard Ramps Up Pressure on Venezuela's Oil Sector In a continued effort to tighten the noose on Venezuela's vital oil industry, the US Coast Guard has been actively pursuing and seizing oil tankers in international waters near the South American nation. This latest action marks the third such incident in the past week, underscoring the Trump administration's relentless campaign to cripple the regime of President Nicolás Maduro. According to multiple unnamed US officials, the Coast Guard is currently tracking an oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of Venezuela. This follows the seizure of another vessel a day earlier, as Washington intensifies its pressure tactics targeting Venezuela's oil exports, a critical lifeline for Maduro's government. The US sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector, first imposed in 2019, have dealt a significant blow to the country's economy, which is heavily dependent on crude exports. The Trump administration has sought to tighten the screws further, with the latest actions aimed at preventing sanctioned tankers from transporting oil in and out of the country. "This is part of the administration's ongoing effort to enforce its Venezuela sanctions program and to prevent the Maduro regime from profiting from the sale of its oil," a senior US official told The Guardian, speaking on condition of anonymity. The sanctions, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on global oil demand, have devastated Venezuela's oil production, which has plummeted to a mere fraction of its former levels. The country's output, once a source of pride and economic stability, has now become a source of desperation for the Maduro government, which is struggling to maintain its grip on power amid a complex political and economic crisis. In this context, the Coast Guard's actions are viewed as a crucial component of the Trump administration's broader strategy to isolate and weaken the Maduro regime. By targeting the country's oil industry, the US hopes to deprive the government of its primary source of revenue and further exacerbate the economic suffering of the Venezuelan people. "The goal is to cut off as much of Maduro's oil revenue as possible," the senior US official explained. "This is all part of the maximum pressure campaign to try to force a political transition in Venezuela." The Trump administration has long advocated for a change in leadership in Venezuela, recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country's legitimate president. However, Maduro has clung to power with the backing of the military and the support of key international allies, such as Russia and Cuba. The latest Coast Guard operations come on the heels of the seizure of four Iranian fuel tankers bound for Venezuela last month. The US hailed this as a significant victory in its efforts to disrupt the flow of oil between the two countries, both of which are under American sanctions. "The United States will continue to target and disrupt any schemes to evade our sanctions on Venezuela," said Elliott Abrams, the US Special Representative for Venezuela, in a statement following the Iranian tanker seizure. The intensified pressure on Venezuela's oil sector has raised concerns among humanitarian groups and international organizations, who warn that the sanctions are exacerbating the country's already dire economic and social conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic has only compounded these challenges, with Venezuela's crumbling healthcare system struggling to cope with the outbreak. "The sanctions are having a devastating impact on the Venezuelan people, who are already facing a complex humanitarian emergency," said a spokesperson for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). "We continue to call for unimpeded access to provide life-saving assistance to those in need." Despite the international outcry, the Trump administration remains steadfast in its pursuit of a political transition in Venezuela. The Coast Guard's latest actions, along with the broader sanctions regime, are seen as crucial steps in this ongoing effort to dislodge Maduro from power and restore democracy in the country. As the standoff continues, the fate of Venezuela's oil industry and the well-being of its citizens hang in the balance. The implications of these actions extend far beyond the immediate geopolitical implications, with the potential to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis in the country.