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In a significant escalation of its efforts to undermine the Venezuelan government, the United States has seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela in the Atlantic Ocean. The operation, which involved British military support, targeted the Marinera, among other vessels, as part of a broader strategy to control oil flows following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. This move is part of the U.S. administration's intensified actions against ships transporting sanctioned Venezuelan oil.
Furthermore, the U.S. is considering a selective rollback of sanctions on Venezuelan oil to facilitate negotiations, potentially allowing for the refinement and sale of up to 50 million barrels of oil. This could lead to a decrease in global crude prices. However, the actions have drawn sharp criticism from China and Russia, who have condemned the U.S. for what they characterize as 'bullying' tactics, raising concerns about escalating international tensions over Venezuela's political situation.