U.S. forces intercepted and boarded the vessel Aquila II in the Indian Ocean early Sunday, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of War. The operation, described as a “right-of-visit” interdiction, was conducted in response to the ship’s alleged violation of sanctions imposed on Caribbean maritime activities under former President Donald Trump’s administration.
The Department of War stated via social media that the vessel was operating in defiance of the “established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean,” though it did not clarify the connection between Caribbean sanctions and the Indian Ocean interception. Analysts suggest the move signals an expansion of U.S. maritime enforcement priorities amid rising global trade tensions.
This incident marks the first publicly reported boarding of a commercial vessel linked to Caribbean sanctions in 2026. Regional security experts warn that such actions could escalate disputes over international maritime law, particularly in strategic waterways near Asia and the Middle East.
