A retired U.S. Navy captain has stated that the Trump administration’s push to seize and pursue sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela is designed to cut off financial lifelines for the Maduro regime, not to acquire oil.
On Sunday, Brent Sadler emphasized in an interview that the Democrats are “absolutely wrong” about this initiative. The retired officer explained that the action targets the money and support structure sustaining the illegal Maduro regime—which he described as driving Venezuela into “a socialist hell.”
Sadler warned that dismantling this network will require sustained operations spanning months, not weeks. He noted that the administration’s strategy aims to destroy the Maduro regime’s revenue streams and disrupt drug trafficking in both the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Recent U.S. Coast Guard actions have seen another sanctioned Venezuelan oil tanker pursued in the Caribbean Sea, following the administration’s seizure of a second vessel within less than two weeks. Sadler stressed that these interdictions are part of a broader campaign against illicit networks also funding Iran and supporting Russia’s military operations in Ukraine through Chinese partners.
“The pace is going to pick up,” Sadler added. He cautioned that such seizures could deter potential customers by highlighting risks associated with trading with sanctioned vessels, potentially redirecting shipments elsewhere.
Sadler concluded that the administration’s efforts represent a critical step in dismantling an illicit network benefiting multiple adversaries globally.
