The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the North Atlantic after a weeks-long pursuit that involved Russian naval assets and was carried out with British cooperation, US officials said on Wednesday.
The move triggered a sharp response from Moscow, with Russia’s Transport Ministry saying “no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in other states’ jurisdictions.”
The vessel, formerly known as Bella 1 and now operating under the name Marinera, was taken under US control pursuant to a federal court warrant for alleged violations of US sanctions, according to the US European Command.
US officials said the operation was conducted jointly by the US Coast Guard and the US military, with the United Kingdom providing logistical and surveillance support. British airbases were used to support the attempted boarding, while Royal Air Force aircraft monitored the tanker as it transited waters between Iceland and the UK.
US Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said only maritime energy transport consistent with US law and national security interests would be allowed.
Tracked for weeks
According to US officials cited by Reuters, the tanker had been under surveillance for weeks after it evaded an earlier US Coast Guard interdiction and repeatedly refused requests to allow boarding. Officials said the vessel attempted to avoid enforcement by changing its flag and registration while crossing the Atlantic.
The pursuit drew heightened geopolitical attention after Russian naval assets, including a submarine and surface warships, were reported to be operating near the tanker’s route. US officials said Russian vessels were present in the general area, though their precise proximity to the tanker remained unclear.
The interception took place near Iceland and carried the risk of escalating tensions between Washington and Moscow, the officials said. If confirmed, the seizure would mark one of the rare recent instances in which US authorities have moved to take control of a Russian-flagged commercial vessel over alleged sanctions violations.
Part of broader Venezuela pressure campaign
US officials said the seizure forms part of President Donald Trump’s intensified pressure campaign against Venezuela, which includes stricter enforcement against oil shipments linked to the country. Another Venezuela-connected tanker has also been intercepted by US authorities in Latin American waters.
The tanker seizure follows a separate US special forces operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was transferred to US custody to face charges related to alleged drug trafficking.
Senior Venezuelan officials condemned Maduro’s capture as a kidnapping and accused Washington of seeking to take control of the country’s oil reserves. Trump on Wednesday said an interim Venezuelan government would transfer between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, with the proceeds controlled by his administration.
“This oil will be sold at its market price, and that money will be controlled by me,” Trump said.
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