Anatoly Kurmanaev

and ordered the crew to take the ship towards Texas.

And at first, the tanker's detention appeared to be a one-off, you know, like a big public relations move, you know, aimed to

grab world attention, shift the narrative away from attacks on drug boats, which were becoming increasingly problematic in U.S.

public opinion and would draw an increasing backlash from American lawmakers, including even some Republicans.

And the seizure was a theatrical move that for many of us that cover Venezuela thought was a red herring.

It became part of something bigger.

Since then, we have seen the U.S.

take action against two more oil tankers with ties to Venezuelan oil.

And they, as we speak, they are chasing another vessel that has worked in Venezuela, which was on the way to the country to pick up crew there.

Yeah, it's a very tough image to understand in your head because clearly a tanker cannot outrun American gunboats.

But Trump has promised that they will get it eventually.

Venezuelan government is livid.

One source said Maduro is not just angry, he's bananas.

They have called the U.S.

murderers, thieves, pirates, referring to, you know, United States as the pirates of the Caribbean.

So the initial explanation was that the U.S.

is simply enforcing sanctions already in place.

Trump was doing something that previous administrations didn't have the gut to do.

During his first administration, Trump made an initial push to ban.

topple Maduro from power.