Oil Climbs as US Pursues Third Tanker in Venezuela Blockade

A helicopter flies over the Centuries tanker, in an image from a video released by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on social media, on Dec. 20.Source: Kristi Noem/X

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By Grant Smith and Will Kubzansky

December 21, 2025 at 11:22 PM UTC

Updated on

December 22, 2025 at 8:10 PM UTC

Oil advanced as the US intensified a blockade on Venezuela, with American forces boarding one tanker and pursuing another within weeks of capturing a vessel.

West Texas Intermediate rose 2.4% to settle above $58 a barrel on Monday after two weekly declines. The US Coast Guard boarded the Centuries tanker in the Caribbean on Saturday, which was carrying up to 2 million barrels of Venezuelan crude. It was the first non-sanctioned vessel to be targeted. As of Sunday, US forces were also in pursuit of the Bella 1, which was en route to Venezuela.