The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing a third tanker Sunday as part of President Trump's military campaign against oil ships servicing Venezuela, two sources tell Axios.
Why it matters: The planned seizure of the tanker, which is on the U.S. sanctions list for rogue oil vessels, was another sign Trump wants to squeeze the oil-rich nation's economy in an effort to force strongman Nicolás Maduro from power.
Venezuela is testing President Trump's blockade of sanctioned oil tankers by letting two crude-laden vessels motor out from the South American nation's ports — including one with a military escort.
Neither tanker has been sanctioned by the U.S., so technically they're not running Trump's blockade.
Why it matters: This newest cat-and-mouse game between Trump and Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro is heightening the tension in the Caribbean. Millions of barrels of oil are at stake — a military conflict seems likelier than ever.
