The Venezuelan government announced on Sept 13 that a US destroyer intercepted, boarded and occupied a Venezuelan tuna fishing vessel for eight hours in the waters of the South American country’s special economic zone on Sept 12.
In a statement read by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, the government said tuna vessel Carmen Rosawas boarded in an illegal and hostile manner, and that it was crewed by nine “humble” fishermen and was “harmless”.
Tensions have been mounting between Washington and Caracas. On Sept 2, a US military strike in the Caribbean
killed 11 people and sank a boat from Venezuela that US President Donald Trump’s administration claimed was transporting illegal narcotics.
The Trump administration has provided scant information about the attack on Sept 2, despite demands from US Congress members for the government to justify its actions. The Venezuelan government has said that
none of those killed belonged to the gang Tren de Aragua, as the US has alleged.
US officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the alleged incident on Sept 12.
The Venezuelan government identified the US vessel as the USS Jason Dunham, “equipped with powerful cruise missiles and manned by highly specialised marines”.
It demanded that the US immediately cease targeting vessels, which it said puts “the security and peace of the Caribbean at risk”.
Hellbound and Down 