January 27, 2026
The U.S. Southern Command reported that U.S. military forces will continue to intercept sanctioned ships in the Caribbean involved in illegal oil transport operations.
In a statement published on the platform X, Southern Command assured that several tankers involved in an illegal shipping network were captured “without incident” by U.S. forces.
The text emphasizes that these vessels “were part of an illegal oil transportation network that evaded sanctions and directly supported narco-terrorists and malicious actors.”
The message highlighted Washington’s ongoing commitment to the maritime offensive in the region.
“The Department of Defense, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, and the Department of Justice, is committed to stopping all tankers from the ‘dark fleet’ that operate in defiance of the quarantine established by President Trump regarding sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean,” the statement noted.
The official statement makes it clear that the operation has not concluded, but will continue as part of a long-term policy to curb the illegal energy supply routes that finance sanctioned regimes and criminal organizations.
The Southern Command also indicated that the action is part of Operation Southern Spear, led by the Department of Defense and carried out with the participation of the United States Navy (U.S. Navy), the Fourth Fleet Command (NAVSO/US4THFLT), the Marine Corps (USMC), and Southern Forces Command (MARFORSOUTH).
According to the publication, these operations are conducted under the direct order of President Donald Trump, as part of his priority to protect U.S. territory and maintain maritime security in the Western Hemisphere.
Although the statement does not mention specific countries, the measure mainly affects vessels linked to the transport of sanctioned oil from Venezuela to Cuba and other destinations.
The so-called “dark fleet” consists of ships that sail with their transponders turned off or using false records to conceal the origin of their cargo and evade detection by international agencies.
The Trump administration believes that these vessels are part of a financial support network for sanctioned regimes, including those in Caracas and Havana.
With this statement, the U.S. government reaffirms its intention to maintain pressure in the Caribbean and consolidate maritime control over the region, during a phase of political reconfiguration following the fall of Nicolás Maduro and the suspension of Venezuelan oil supplies to Cuba.
A few days ago, it was reported that the administration of President Donald Trump is considering new measures to pressure for a regime change in Cuba, including the possibility of imposing a total blockade on oil imports to the island, according to three individuals familiar with the internal discussions who spoke to Politico.