U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen announced that U.S. forces have boarded a second Venezuelan oil tanker and seized it. The interception operation carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard on Saturday targeted a ship carrying crude oil whose final destination is Asia, although the vessel itself was not subject to U.S. sanctions. According to U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters, the United States is currently tracking a third ship near Venezuela, but details remain unclear. These measures are part of a larger plan to weaken the Maduro regime. Despite Trump's continued pressure on Maduro through the seizure and attack of ships, and his more open acknowledgment of his intent to remove Maduro from power, Trump's options seem to be rapidly diminishing. If Trump is unwilling to launch a more intense military invasion, it is unclear how he can now remove Maduro. Brazilian President Lula warned the U.S. on Saturday not to escalate actions further, stating that a more direct attack on Venezuela would set a "dangerous precedent" and trigger a "humanitarian disaster."
If the U.S. successfully prevents more Venezuelan oil from reaching Cuba, the island nation's economy could collapse. Cuba is already in a severe crisis. Experts estimate that since 2020, about a quarter of Cuba's population has left.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1852176049087947/
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