A sanctioned Russian oil tanker has reportedly reached Venezuela following several route changes and attempts to evade U.S. naval interception in the Caribbean Sea. The ship anchored at Puerto La Cruz, a port city on the South American country's northeastern coast, according to global shipping news outlets.

Why It Matters

The tanker arrived despite a large U.S. naval presence in the Caribbean, part of ongoing counter-drug operations and increased pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime. Since 2019, the U.S. has targeted the regime with sanctions on its state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, and by monitoring foreign companies and shadow fleets transporting oil to the country.

What To Know

The Seahorse , a tanker built in 2004 and sanctioned by the UK and

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