After Dramatic Chase, US Seizes Russian-Flagged Tanker Linked to Venezuela

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 the knowledge and approval of the United Kingdom, US officials said. The operation has drawn a sharp response from Moscow, which accused Washington of violating international maritime law.

Russia’s Transport Ministry said “no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in other states’ jurisdictions,” condemning the seizure. US Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said only maritime energy transport consistent with American law and national security interests would be permitted.

The vessel, formerly known as Bella 1 and now registered as Marinera, was taken under US control on Wednesday under the authority of a federal court warrant for violating US sanctions, according to the US European Command.

US officials said the operation was carried out jointly by the US Coast Guard and the US military, with British cooperation playing a critical role. British airbases were used to support the attempted boarding of the tanker, while Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft tracked the vessel as it moved through waters between Iceland and the United Kingdom.

Tracked for weeks amid Russian naval presence

According to US officials cited by Reuters, the tanker had been tracked across the Atlantic after repeatedly refusing boarding requests from the US Coast Guard and evading a US maritime “blockade.” The vessel also attempted to avoid interdiction by changing its flag and registration.

The pursuit drew wider geopolitical attention as Russian naval assets, including a submarine and other warships, were reported to be operating near the tanker’s route. US officials said Russian military vessels were present in the general vicinity of the operation, though their exact proximity to the tanker was unclear.

The interception took place near Iceland and carried the risk of escalating tensions with Moscow, the officials said. If confirmed, the seizure would mark one of the rare recent cases in which US forces have moved to take control of a Russian-flagged commercial vessel over alleged sanctions violations.

Tanker among vessels targeted by US

The tanker, originally operating as Bella 1, was first intercepted by the US Coast Guard last month but refused to allow US personnel to board, officials said. It later re-registered under a Russian flag and adopted the name Marinera.

The seizure is part of President Donald Trump’s intensified pressure campaign against Venezuela, which includes stricter enforcement actions against oil shipments linked to the country. US authorities have also intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker in Latin American waters.

The tanker seizures come days after US special forces carried out a pre-dawn 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 have condemned the operation, calling Maduro’s capture a kidnapping and accusing Washington of attempting to seize control of Venezuela’s oil reserves, believed to be the largest in the world.

Trump on Wednesday outlined his plans on social media, saying an interim government in Venezuela 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.