• US Coast Guard is pursuing a third oil tanker linked to Venezuela amidst rising tensions.
• President Trump declared a "total and complete blockade" on sanctioned oil tankers.
• Venezuela condemns US actions as "international piracy," threatening to file complaints with the UN.
• China criticizes the US for "arbitrarily seizing" vessels and extends support to Venezuela.
• Despite US pressure, Venezuela successfully met its oil production goal of 1.2 million barrels per day.

The United States Coast Guard is currently pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela, marking the third such operation in less than a week. This follows previous seizures that have intensified tensions in the region, particularly following President Trump's announcement of a "total and complete blockade" on all sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela, according to AA, Reuters, and CBS News.

As US forces continue their operations, they seized the Centuries supertanker on December 20 and a vessel called Skipper on December 10, both for allegedly participating in oil trafficking and evasion of US sanctions. The US claims these operations aim to combat corruption and drug trafficking that allegedly funds the Venezuelan regime. In contrast, Venezuela has referred to the US actions as "theft" and "kidnapping," vowing to seek redress through international bodies, as reported by AA, SCMP, and ABC News.

The US military presence in the Caribbean has significantly increased, with reports indicating that more than 100 individuals have been killed in operations targeting vessels accused of drug trafficking. The White House's National Economic Council director recently stated that the seized tankers do not pose a threat to US oil prices, asserting they operated primarily within black markets, according to Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and BBC.

Meanwhile, Venezuela's Vice President announced the country has reached its oil production target of 1.2 million barrels a day, a significant achievement attributed to the resilience of PDVSA workers amidst US sanctions and interventions. This declaration underscores Venezuela's attempts to maintain its oil output despite increased external pressures, according to AA and AA.