Trump Crushes Venezuelan Tanker Chase

U.S. forces chase sanctioned Venezuelan tanker across oceans to the Indian Ocean, killing two resisters and seizing the vessel—proving President Trump’s iron resolve to crush Maduro’s smuggling networks and secure American energy dominance.

Story Highlights

U.S. military boarded Aquila II on February 9-10, 2026, after global pursuit, resulting in two deaths and one survivor.
Trump’s quarantine enforces sanctions, with seven tankers now confiscated to control Venezuelan oil exports.
Operations escalated after January 3 capture of Maduro via Operation Absolute Resolve, disrupting drug cartels and illicit oil trade.
39 strikes since September 2025 killed 130, demonstrating elite U.S. naval power against globalist evasion tactics.
“GREAT Energy Deal” redirects oil revenues to stabilize Venezuela under U.S. oversight, rejecting socialist corruption.

Aquila II: Transoceanic Takedown

U.S. forces pursued the Aquila II from Venezuelan waters across the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Destroyers USS Pinck and USS Finn, plus mobile base USS Miguel Keith, tracked the vessel using satellite imagery. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the February 9 boarding killed two crew members who resisted. One survivor was detained. The tanker violated President Trump’s quarantine on sanctioned ships. This operation showcases American military reach, far beyond failed Biden-era diplomacy that allowed Maduro’s oil to fund anti-U.S. agendas.

Timeline of Trump’s Venezuela Victory

Operations began in September 2025 with Southern Command strikes on Caribbean drug vessels. January 3, 2026, saw Operation Absolute Resolve capture Nicolás Maduro and wife Cilia Flores using 150 aircraft, including F-22s and first-use one-way drones. Strikes hit key bases like Fort Tiuna. January 15, USS Gerald R. Ford’s Marines seized tanker Veronica. January 20 brought Sagitta’s capture. February’s Aquila II marks the third post-Maduro tanker seizure, enforcing lawful oil channels against cartel smuggling.

Enforcing Sanctions, Securing Energy

Venezuela’s covert ghost fleet evaded prior sanctions, shipping crude to rogue markets. Trump’s policy targets these falsely flagged tankers. Pentagon confirmed Aquila II operated outside the quarantine, attempting evasion. No crude oil was aboard, but pursuit prevented future violations. U.S. now holds seven tankers, with plans to refine and sell 50 million barrels. Revenues fund stability, recovery, transition—triple goals of crippling Maduro remnants, smashing drug routes, and accessing oil without socialist waste.

Secretary Marco Rubio outlined U.S. control to benefit Venezuelans, bypassing corrupt regimes. This rejects globalist handouts, prioritizing American security and energy independence.

Impacts: Crushing Cartels, Boosting America

Short-term, interdictions scattered Maduro operatives, seizing assets and pressuring cartels like Tren de Aragua. 130 deaths across 39 strikes signal zero tolerance for threats flooding U.S. borders with drugs and illegals. Long-term, the GREAT Energy Deal reshapes oil markets, generating revenue under U.S. oversight. Shipping faces new risks for sanctions breakers. Regional dominance strengthens, countering China-Russia influence. Critics ignore how Biden’s weakness enabled this chaos—Trump delivers results.

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