Tanker War

[gcode]

Frontline reports

I wonder how much of this oil was getting into the US market after a couple of transactions to clean it.

This is going to hurt Russia as well and Venezuela as they are both complicit is selling sanctioned oil on the world markets through devious and illegal means.

[MIL-TFP-41]

I wonder how sanctions really work. Say the US sanctions a product produced by Venezuela. In my mind this would mean that the US will no longer by that product from Venezuela. The US can also pressure other countries not to buy that product, tho it would have to be up to the other countries whether they decide to follow the US's sanctions.

However, a place like Russia or China has no sanctions against that product, so Venezuela is free to sell to whoever is willing and/or able to buy. Even with the US applying pressure, at the end of the day Russia or Venezuela can still find a buyer. So what if it conflicts with the US sanctions. Venezuela might be breaking US law, but they are autonomous and could give a shit less about US law. Sell to whoever is willing to buy.

Point being....just because the US isn't willing to buy their shit doesn't mean they can't sell it. We obviously can't force others to follow our sanctions. Or maybe we can. Is that what this is about?

[CNCAppsJames]

Frontline reports

I wonder how much of this oil was getting into the US market after a couple of transactions to clean it.

This is going to hurt Russia as well and Venezuela as they are both complicit is selling sanctioned oil on the world markets through devious and illegal means.

They can test for origin... of course if they load, unload, store, load, unload store a few times, provenance may prove difficult to ascertain.

[CNCAppsJames]

I wonder how sanctions really work.
...
Point being....just because the US isn't willing to buy their shit doesn't mean they can't sell it. We obviously can't force others to follow our sanctions. Or maybe we can. Is that what this is about?

I think it depends on the sanction and level of global cooperation. Few nations buy oil from Iran. It's the usual suspects though; countries that do not rely on us for economic support. Probably the same situation in this case if I had to guess.

I can't imagine we can stop them from selling oil to their trade partners. I also suspect that the Venezuelan tankers with suspicious ownership flying without proper flags opens them up to Flag State Principle issues. Wish my grandpa was still alive... he was a Merchant Marine licensed to captain large vessels. He'd know. Sure miss him. 

[MIL-TFP-41]

I wonder how much of this oil was getting into the US market after a couple of transactions to clean it.

I was surprised to learn that the US (Chevron) buys a fair amount of oil from Venezuela. Somehow they are able to get around the sanctions (ya think there is a few $$$ involved in them getting around that?) Apparently they are the only US based company operating there. When Chávez nationalized their oil industry, all other companies pulled out. Chevron stayed, playing the long game I guess.

[CNCAppsJames]

China is BIG mad at the US...

 

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-says-us-seizure-ships-serious-violation-international-law-2025-12-22/