US Blockade of Venezuela Heats Up, Commodity Prices Fierce!
Tensions between the United States (US) and Venezuela have escalated again over the same core issue: oil. The US is pressuring the government of President Nicolás Maduro with sanctions and stricter controls on Venezuelan oil shipments deemed to be violating regulations. Amid this pressure, Venezuela's oil export routes are increasingly linked to ships operating under "grey" or difficult-to-trace circumstances.
The situation began to explode when the US escalated its actions at sea. This move was not merely a political statement, but also a crackdown on vessels carrying Venezuelan oil. From there, the market began to perceive signals that Venezuelan oil shipments could be disrupted.
In the initial phase, the US seized/arrested the first tanker. This incident was a major trigger because it sent a message that the US was serious about blocking oil distribution routes deemed to be violating sanctions. The effects were immediate: shipping risks increased, and pressure on Venezuela intensified.
Following the initial action, further impacts emerged on logistics routes. Several shipments were reportedly delayed or rerouted as market participants began to perceive the region as increasingly risky. This meant that the disruption wasn't limited to a single ship, but had the potential to spread to larger export flows.
The US then hardened its position by presenting a "blockade" of Venezuelan oil tankers on the sanctions list. This statement made the situation seem even more assertive: the US wanted to close off room for maneuver, not just issue a warning.
Shortly thereafter, another operation occurred, when US authorities intercepted/boarded another tanker in waters near Venezuela. At this point, tensions escalated, as Venezuela viewed the action as extreme pressure, while the US viewed it as enforcing sanctions policy.
Subsequently, news emerged that the US was pursuing yet another tanker. This series of operations reinforced the impression that the conflict had entered a "test of endurance" in the energy sector. The impact on the market was clear: oil prices became sensitive, and safe-haven assets like gold tended to benefit when geopolitical risk increased. (asd)
Source: Newsmaker.id
