"Reality check: That last threat to "keep the ships" could be complicated in the case of one of the seized vessels, Centuries, which was not under sanction when it was boarded Saturday by the U.S. Coast Guard. Centuries was carrying at least 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude estimated at more than $90 million. China's government condemned the interdiction of the ship, which is owned by a Hong Kong-based company but flew a Panamanian flag."
"Allow U.S.-based businesses with $20.5 billion in court-approved claims against Venezuela's regime lay claim to the oil Keep the oil outright and store it in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the nation's crude stockpile. The intrigue: Trump made clear he hasn't made up his mind on which option, but giving it back appears out of the question for now. "Maybe we'll sell it," he said. "Maybe we'll keep it in the strategic reserves. We're keeping the ships, also.""
Trump's policy of interdicting two tankers carrying Venezuelan crude could produce hundreds of millions of dollars for the U.S. government. The administration is considering three options: sell the oil on the open market and fund government, allow U.S.-based businesses with $20.5 billion in court-approved claims to seize the oil, or store the oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Trump has not decided and refused to return the oil or ships. One seized ship, Centuries, was not under sanction and carried at least 1.8 million barrels worth about $90 million; China condemned the boarding. The other tanker, Skipper, had sanctions and nearly 1.9 million barrels subject to a court seizure.
Read at Axios
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