US pursuing third oil tanker off Venezuela as military build-up continues | BBC News

The US government is tonight pursuing a third vessel off the coast of Venezuela in international waters in a further escalation of tension between the two countries . Two oil tankers have already been seized by the US military this month, one of them yesterday that prompted Venezuela to accuse the Trump administration of a serious act of international piracy . Joe Inwood has the latest . Donald Trump had threatened a blockade of Venezuelan oil . It seems to be at least in part beginning . Late last night in international waters, the US Coast Guard boarded a tanker . Tonight, confirmation of another operation . The pursuit of a ship said to be the Bella 1 , accused of flying a false flag. . It follows another being boarded two weeks ago . All part of what the US says is an operation against narco terrorism . Venezuela sees it very differently . Nicholas Majoro has accused the US of . Now, this all comes amidst continued US military buildup in the region involving thousands of troops, an aircraft carrier, warships, and fighter jets . They've carried out dozens of strikes against small boats they accuse of carrying drugs, although are yet to provide any evidence . There has been increasing unease in Congress about the legality of the strikes . For many who follow maritime security, there's little doubt about what's going on . Look, I think it's very clear the US military buildup since August in the Caribbean is very much about putting pressure uh on Nicholas Maduro . You don't need a 100,000 ton aircraft carrier to undertake counter narcotics operations . So, it's very clear the US wants regime change, and that's what the military buildup is about . At a regional summit, South America's two most powerful leaders clashed over the situation . The limits of international law are being tested . An armed intervention in Venezuela would be a humanitarian catastrophe for the hemisphere . Argentina welcomes the pressure from the United States and Donald Trump to liberate the Venezuelan people . The time for a timid approach on this matter has run out