United States Seizes Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker Chased to North Atlantic for Two Weeks
- The United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker near Iceland after a dramatic two-week pursuit across the Atlantic
- The operation, part of Washington’s blockade of Venezuelan oil exports, was the first time in recent memory that US forces had taken control of a Russian vessel
- The move came just days after US special forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas
The United States seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker near Iceland on Wednesday after a pursuit lasting more than two weeks across the Atlantic, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to Reuters.
The vessel, shadowed by a Russian submarine, was taken as part of Washington’s ongoing blockade of Venezuelan oil exports.
Source: Getty Images
According to Reuters, officials said this appeared to be the first time in recent memory that the U.S. military had seized a Russian-flagged vessel. The tanker, originally named Bella-1, had slipped through a U.S. maritime blockade in the Caribbean and resisted earlier attempts by the Coast Guard to board it.
US sanctions and military response
The U.S. military’s European Command confirmed in a post on X that the Trump administration had seized the vessel for violating sanctions. U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in response:
"The blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in FULL EFFECT — anywhere in the world."
The operation was carried out jointly by the Coast Guard and U.S. military forces. Officials said Russian military vessels, including a submarine, were in the area but there were no signs of direct confrontation. Moscow did not immediately comment, though Russian state media outlet RT published an image showing a helicopter hovering near the ship.
Vessel renamed Marinera
The tanker had previously refused interception attempts last month before registering under a Russian flag and being renamed Marinera. Sources said it was unclear where the vessel would now go, though it was likely to enter British territorial waters. Britain’s Ministry of Defence declined to comment.
The Marinera is the latest vessel targeted under U.S. President Donald Trump’s pressure campaign against Venezuela. Separately, U.S. officials confirmed that the Coast Guard intercepted another Venezuela-linked tanker, the Panama-flagged supertanker M Sophia, in Latin American waters. The ship had departed Venezuela in early January carrying oil to China in “dark mode” with its transponder switched off.
Maduro captured in Caracas raid
The seizure came just days after U.S. special forces carried out a pre-dawn raid in Caracas on Saturday, capturing President Nicolas Maduro. He was later handed over to federal authorities in the United States to face charges linked to alleged drug tra fficking.
Top Venezuelan officials described Maduro’s capture as a kidnapping and accused Washington of attempting to steal the country’s vast oil reserves, which are estimated to be the largest in the world.
Trump eyes Venezuelan oil deal
President Trump said on Tuesday that Caracas and Washington had reached a deal to export up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to the United States. The agreement would divert supplies from China and help Venezuela avoid deeper production cuts.
Trump has demanded that interim President Delcy Rodriguez grant U.S. and private companies “total access” to Venezuela’s oil industry. Analysts said the deal signalled that Venezuela may be responding to U.S. pressure to open its energy sector or face further military intervention.
Since U.S. sanctions were imposed on Venezuela in 2019, traders and refiners have relied on a “shadow fleet” of tankers that disguise their location or use vessels already sanctioned for transporting Iranian or Russian oil. Shipping experts warned that this fleet remained vulnerable to punitive U.S. measures.
Source: Getty Images
5 countries Donald Trump could target next
Legit.ng earlier reported that the world has been bracing for US President Donald Trump’s next move after the dramatic ousting of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
With Operation Absolute Resolve hailed as a success by Washington, Trump has openly threatened five more countries, sparking fears of further military action and geopolitical instability.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
