GLOBAL OIL FLASHPOINT | GEOPOLITICS IN FOCUS 🌍🛢️
**What Happened:**
U.S. authorities have seized another oil tanker linked to Venezuela's shadow fleet — the Panama-flagged *Centuries* — carrying ~1.8 million barrels of Merey heavy crude headed to China 🇨🇳.
**Why It Matters:**
- Merey is Venezuela's flagship heavy sour crude: critical export revenue and key feedstock for complex Asian refineries.
- This size of seizure directly disrupts sanctioned flows and tightens global heavy oil supply.
- Marks a clear escalation: from rhetoric to real enforcement of U.S. sanctions.
**Bigger Picture:**
- Rapid intensification of pressure on Venezuelan oil exports and the shadow tanker network.
- China remains the main destination, highlighting ongoing sanctions evasion routes.
- Reminder that energy markets are battlegrounds for power and leverage, not just supply/demand.
**Market Implications:**
- Growing geopolitical risk premium supporting higher crude prices.
- Expect elevated volatility as supply routes come under threat.
- Bullish bias strengthens if more tankers face interdiction.
**Bottom Line:**
Oil isn't just a commodity — it's a strategic weapon in global geopolitics.
📌 Track tanker movements, sanction updates, and Brent/WTI charts closely. Price action will lead the headlines.
**Energy Sentiment Crypto Play:**
