Trump Administration Targets Venezuelan Oil Tankers to Dismantle Illicit Regime Funding

Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Brent Sadler stated Sunday that the Trump administration’s push to seize and pursue sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela is designed to cut off funding for the Maduro regime, not to acquire oil.

The retired officer emphasized that Democratic claims about the initiative are incorrect, noting it targets the financial infrastructure supporting Venezuela’s “socialist hell” operations.

“The Democrats on that point are absolutely wrong,” Sadler told Newsmax’s “Sunday Agenda.” “It’s actually about going after the money and the support structure of this illegal regime, the Maduro regime in Venezuela, that’s just continued to drive that country into a socialist hell to go after the cartels.”

Sadler added that dismantling the regime’s business model will take months, not weeks.

“The oil,” he said, “is another piece of the puzzle.” Sadler explained the U.S. Coast Guard’s recent actions—pursuing a second sanctioned Venezuelan tanker in the Caribbean Sea within two weeks—as part of a broader strategy to disrupt illicit trade networks that fund global adversaries.

Sadler warned that the seizures could deter future customers by signaling risks associated with trading in Venezuelan oil: “If they see it’s dangerous to do trade there or buy this Venezuelan oil, they’re going to look elsewhere.”

The retired officer also highlighted how Venezuelan oil shipments fund other adversaries, including Iran and Russia’s war efforts.

“This is bigger than the Maduro regime,” Sadler said. “Much of this oil supports the Iranian regime, and it’s funneling money to Russia’s war effort by facilitating transfers to China and other nations.”

Sadler concluded that sustained operations are critical: “It’s going to take probably a lot more months to actually cut out their business model, destroy their business, their money-making ability, and take out these drug boats both in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean.”