WORLD NEWS
U.S Forces Seize Russian-Flagged Tanker Linked to Venezuela After Weeks-Long Atlantic Chase, Triggering Diplomatic and Military Tensions
The United States military has commandeered a Russian-flagged oil tanker with alleged links to Venezuela in the North Atlantic following a dramatic pursuit that stretched over several weeks, escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow and raising fresh concerns over the enforcement of global sanctions.
Confirming the hardline posture of the US government, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored Washington’s resolve in a blunt public statement, declaring, “The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world,” a message that signalled the administration’s willingness to act far beyond US territorial waters.
Two unnamed US officials told the Reuters news agency on Wednesday that the operation was jointly carried out by the US Coast Guard and the US military. The seizure marked the climax of a prolonged maritime operation targeting the tanker Marinera, a vessel US authorities describe as part of a covert network used to evade international sanctions.
According to Russian state broadcaster RT, US forces boarded the Venezuela-linked tanker from a helicopter, releasing an image showing the aircraft hovering close to the ship during the operation. RT further quoted an unnamed source as saying that a US Coast Guard vessel had been tailing the tanker for some time and that an earlier attempt to seize it during a storm had already been made.
The operation followed the tanker’s reported evasion of a US maritime “blockade” imposed on sanctioned vessels. The ship, previously known as the Bella-1, allegedly slipped through surveillance efforts and resisted earlier attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it.
US officials maintain that the Marinera belongs to a so-called shadow fleet that has been used to transport oil for countries including Venezuela, Russia and Iran, in violation of US sanctions regimes. These fleets, often operating under shifting ownership and reflagging arrangements, have become a central focus of US enforcement efforts.
The pursuit of the Marinera has reportedly been ongoing since last month, coinciding with heightened US military activity related to Venezuela, including the operation to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, which was carried out on Saturday. This overlap has added to speculation about the broader strategic objectives behind the tanker seizure.
Tracking data from MarineTraffic showed the vessel nearing Iceland’s exclusive economic zone on Wednesday, indicating just how far north the high-stakes chase had extended. As the situation unfolded, Reuters reported that a Russian submarine and a Russian warship were operating in the vicinity, adding a sharp military edge to what had already become a volatile standoff.
Reporting from Moscow, journalist Dmitry Medvedenko said there had been at least two previous attempts in recent weeks in what he described as “this cat-and-mouse game to seize this tanker.” He added that the Russian government has not confirmed whether it deployed any naval assets to escort the Marinera.
“The Russian Foreign Ministry only said that it’s monitoring the situation and it’s been calling this pursuit disproportionate,” Medvedenko said.
Russian state media cited the ministry as stating that the vessel, now flying the Russian flag, was operating in international waters and acting in line with international maritime law.
Moscow also urged Western nations to respect the ship’s right to freedom of navigation, a principle it argues is being undermined by aggressive enforcement actions.
The tanker was sanctioned by the United States in 2024 over allegations that it smuggled cargo on behalf of a company linked to the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
In December, the US Coast Guard attempted to board the vessel in the Caribbean as it headed toward Venezuela, but the ship refused boarding and altered course across the Atlantic, setting the stage for the weeks-long pursuit that has now ended in its seizure.