Incident between USS Stockdale and tanker Seahorse
The American destroyer USS Stockdale blocked the path of the Russian oil tanker Seahorse, which was attempting to deliver fuel to Venezuela. The incident occurred on November 13, when the tanker, belonging to Russia's shadow fleet, collided with the American military ship while trying to reach the shores of Venezuela. USS Stockdale was sent to the Caribbean Sea as part of a drug trafficking operation and arrived in the region in late September.
Sanctions and US military presence
The Seahorse tanker has been placed on the 'black' lists of the United Kingdom and the European Union, where sanctions have been imposed against Russian tankers. As of early 2025, Russia's shadow fleet consisted of about 940 vessels. In January 2025, the US imposed sanctions against 42 tankers, while the UK included 73 tankers on its sanctions lists, and the EU imposed sanctions against 17 tankers.
Furthermore, more than 4,000 military personnel are aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford, highlighting the US military presence in the region. US President Donald Trump has not yet made a decision regarding the initiation of military operations against Venezuela. EU Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius warned that Russia's shadow fleet poses a range of threats to Europe.
This incident underscores the growing competition between the US and Russia in strategically important regions such as the Caribbean Sea, where control over oil supplies can have a significant impact on economic and political stability. - EU Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius
Thus, the incident involving the Seahorse tanker and the USS Stockdale destroyer demonstrates the rising tensions in the region and the complexity of the geopolitical situation concerning Russian oil transportation.