Venezuela's Bolivarian National Guard seized a Guyanese fuel smuggling ship in the eastern Venezuelan municipality of Caroni on Oct. 23. On Oct. 15, it intercepted a Trinidadian fishing vessel allegedly operating in Venezuelan waters. And on Oct. 10, it seized the Panama-flagged Teknik Perdana oil exploration ship, which reportedly was operating in disputed waters on behalf of U.S. oil company Anadarko. Whether in the Suez Canal or the South China Sea, such interventions in maritime activity by a regional power frequently pique the interest of global players. Unlike Suez, this corner of the world has little relevance to global shipping. But like the South China Sea, it may have substantial oil and natural gas resources, something that will fuel a territorial dispute that has already lasted a century.