Motor Vessel Sagitta

The Motor Vessel Sagitta is an oil tanker recently seized by United States military forces in the Caribbean Sea. This action is part of a broader US effort, initiated in January 2026 under the Trump administration, to exert control over Venezuela's oil resources and disrupt what the US deems illicit oil transport. The Sagitta is the seventh Venezuela-linked tanker apprehended by the US military in this campaign. US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) oversaw the operation, stating the vessel was seized "without incident." The US asserts that the Sagitta was operating in defiance of US sanctions imposed on Venezuela. The seizure highlights the ongoing tensions between the US and Venezuela regarding oil production and sales, and the US's increasing military presence in the Caribbean to enforce its policies.