Unexpected turn: The U.S. hands over an oil tanker to Venezuela that had been seized in the Caribbean

The United States handed over to Venezuela an oil tanker that had been confiscated in early January, in an unexpected move that was not accompanied by official explanations.

Two U.S. officials confirmed to Reuters that the vessel, identified as the M/T Sophia, has been returned to Venezuelan authorities.

The ship, flying the Panamanian flag, had been intercepted on January 7 by the Coast Guard and military forces of the United States while transporting crude oil.

At that moment, Washington described the Sophia as a "stateless tanker," belonging to a "dark fleet" subject to international sanctions.

According to the press agency, the Sophia had been anchored off the coast of Ponce, Puerto Rico, since January 21, alongside another confiscated oil tanker.

It is unclear whether the ship was returned with its oil cargo or under what conditions the transfer took place, the source emphasized.

The U.S. government did not comment on the reasons for the gesture, and Venezuela's Ministry of Communications, responsible for responding to the press, also did not provide statements, emphasized Reuters.

The return of the ship occurs in a context of changes in the relationship between the two countries following the capture of Nicolás Maduro and the start of the transition process led by interim President Delcy Rodríguez under the supervision of Washington.

The administration of Donald Trump has focused its policy towards Latin America on the reconstruction of Venezuela's energy sector and the temporary control of its oil resources, as recently explained by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Both officials state that the objective is to ensure transparency in the management of the country's assets and to prevent them from falling back into the hands of chavismo.

According to maritime industry experts cited by Reuters, many of the vessels involved in the Venezuelan crude oil trade were built over two decades ago and operate without safety certifications or adequate insurance, posing a significant environmental risk.