The X post from @Megatron_ron

 (a popular geopolitics account) claims: "NEW: 16 oil tankers from BRICS members Brazil, Russia, China, India, plus Mexico and others are BREAKING the American blockade and loading Venezuelan oil - Reuters."Verification of the ClaimThis appears to be partially inaccurate or exaggerated. Reliable sources like Reuters, The New York Times, and TankerTrackers.com confirm that around a dozen to 16 sanctioned oil tankers (many part of the "shadow fleet" used for Iran, Russia, and Venezuela) have recently left Venezuelan waters loaded with crude and fuel, often using deceptive tactics like turning off AIS transponders ("dark mode"), spoofing locations, or sailing in groups to evade detection.These departures happened in early January 2026, defying the U.S. "blockade" (officially a quarantine on sanctioned vessels) imposed by President Trump in mid-December 2025.However:There is no direct evidence in Reuters or other major reports that these specific tankers are flagged or owned by Brazil, Russia, India, China, or Mexico as state entities.

Many are part of anonymous shadow fleets, often reflagged (e.g., to Comoros, Guinea, or Panama) and historically linked to trades with China (the primary buyer of Venezuelan oil).

The post likely infers BRICS involvement because Venezuela's main oil partners include China, Russia, and India, but the tankers themselves are not explicitly from BRICS national fleets.


The attached image in the post is a stock photo of oil tankers at a Venezuelan port (Jose terminal), not specific evidence of BRICS tankers.Broader Context (as of January 6, 2026)U.S. Actions: Trump ordered a "total blockade" on sanctioned tankers in December 2025, escalating after strikes on alleged drug boats and leading to the dramatic U.S. capture of President Nicolás Maduro (and his wife) on narco-terrorism charges. The goal includes pressuring Venezuela's economy and gaining access to its vast oil reserves (world's largest at ~303 billion barrels).

Venezuelan Oil Exports: Exports were paralyzed in late 2025 due to the blockade, forcing production cuts. Recent tanker departures (carrying ~12 million barrels, mostly to Asia) show some evasion success, but Chevron (U.S. company) is exempted and continues limited operations.

Geopolitical Angle: Venezuela has deepened ties with BRICS (became a partner nation in 2024), selling oil in non-dollar currencies (e.g., yuan to China). This has fueled speculation that U.S. intervention aims to counter de-dollarization and BRICS influence in Latin America.

Impacts: These evasion attempts highlight limits to U.S. enforcement but risk escalation (e.g., seizures or confrontations). Oil markets remain stable due to global oversupply.


The post amplifies a real event for dramatic effect, framing it as bold BRICS defiance against U.S. "hegemony." In reality, it's more about shadowy private operators bypassing sanctions than official BRICS coordination.If you'd like me to dive deeper into specific sources, related posts, or images, let me know!