Oil loading in Venezuela slowed with more ships turning around following new U.S. interceptions, according to a Reuters report cited in an X post by AlbertoRodNews between 6:16 p.m. and 6:46 p.m. UTC on December 22. The development occurs amid U.S. pursuits of sanctioned Venezuelan-linked vessels, including the M/T Bella 1, which transmitted distress alerts from position 19.02 N, 57.23 W at 11 knots, as reported by @Hugotips in the previous hour and confirmed by TankerTrackers earlier. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated at 4:26 p.m. UTC that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro "has to go," targeting the country's oil economy, per AlertaNews24. This marks the third such U.S. pursuit in less than two weeks, as noted by Selina Wang citing GMA, aligning with President Donald Trump's pressure on Maduro's regime.
