US seizes two ‘shadow fleet’ tankers linked to Venezuelan oil
The United States has seized two oil tankers, named the “Bella” and “Bering,” that were reportedly part of what is known as Venezuela’s “shadow fleet.” The vessels were said to be carrying oil ultimately bound for Cuba. The seizure took place in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Houston, Texas. The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that the tankers were seized based on a warrant issued by a U.S. judge.
The tankers are said to be connected to Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA, which has been the target of U.S. sanctions in an effort to put pressure on the current government in Venezuela. The U.S. authorities have alleged that the oil being transported is in violation of these sanctions, with suspicions that the profits from the oil sales would go to entities and individuals that the U.S. has identified as benefiting the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Venezuela, through its state-owned oil company, has condemned the seizure of the tankers, labeling it as an act of piracy and a violation of international law. The Venezuelan government has called on the U.S. to release the vessels and allow them to continue their journey.
The incident comes amid ongoing political tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela. The U.S. has backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó, while Venezuela considers Maduro as the legitimate president. The seizure of the tankers is likely to further strain relations between the two countries.
The U.S. government has not provided further details on the seizure of the tankers or the future plans for the confiscated oil.
Sources Analysis
– The U.S. Department of Justice: The organization has a history of serving the interests of the U.S. government and upholding U.S. law. In this case, its interest lies in enforcing sanctions against Venezuela.
– PDVSA (Venezuela’s state-owned oil company): PDVSA has consistently defended its operations and interests, aiming to protect its revenue and assets.
Fact Check
– Seizure of the tankers: Verified fact. This information was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
– Allegations of oil being in violation of sanctions: Unconfirmed claims. The specifics of the alleged violation have not been independently verified.
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Model:
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Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “US seizes two ‘shadow fleet’ tankers linked to Venezuelan oil”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.