U.S. Captures Russian Tanker Amid Heightened Tensions Over Venezuelan Oil Trade

U.S. officials announced on Wednesday that they had seized a large tanker flying the Russian flag, which is linked to sanctioned oil from Venezuela, in the North Atlantic. This development could escalate tensions between the two nations.

The vessel, previously known as the Bella 1 and currently operating under the name Marinera, had been trying to evade the U.S. Coast Guard for over two weeks after escaping capture near Venezuela.

As the tanker was detained, Russian naval forces were reportedly en route to provide it with protection.

This incident represents an uncommon direct clash between Washington and Moscow during the second Trump administration, as the U.S. president aims to bring an end to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

Here are the key points to note:

In December, the U.S. implemented a naval blockade on Venezuela in an effort to tighten its grip on President Nicolás Maduro’s regime prior to his unexpected arrest on Saturday. The directive to restrict the movement of all sanctioned vessels in and out of Venezuelan ports marked a significant escalation that jeopardized the nation’s crucial oil industry.

On December 20, the U.S. Coast Guard tried to intercept the Bella 1 for not displaying a proper national flag. The tanker had been sanctioned in July 2024 for allegedly transporting oil and financing Hezbollah, having set sail from Iran.

The vessel refused to allow authorities on board and fled into international waters heading towards Europe.

For two weeks, the Coast Guard pursued the tanker while an elite team of U.S. special operatives carried out a mission to arrest Maduro, a close ally of Russia, aiming to bring him to New York on drug trafficking charges. On New Year’s Eve, the Kremlin reportedly requested that the U.S. halt its pursuit, according to The New York Times.

While crossing the Atlantic, the crew renamed the Bella 1 to Marinera, re-registered it in a Russian shipping database, and painted a Russian flag along the hull.

“This was Russia attempting to exert influence by intervening in the U.S. blockade,” said Craig Kennedy, an associate at Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, to The Guardian. “And it backfired.”

On Tuesday, Russia allegedly sent a submarine to escort the tanker, but it arrived too late.

Before assistance could reach the vessel, the U.S. intercepted it in waters between Iceland and the UK. An outlet backed by the Kremlin, RT, released footage purportedly from the deck of the Marinera, showing American ships making a final approach to detain it.

The U.S. European Command stated that the seizure aligns with Trump’s efforts “to target sanctioned vessels that pose a threat to the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere.”

Britain’s Defense Ministry reported that it provided logistical support for the operation.

“This vessel, part of a Venezuelan shadow fleet, has transported sanctioned oil,” stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during a press briefing on Wednesday, adding that the seizure was authorized by a judicial order and that the crew might face legal action.

So far, Russia’s response has been muted. The Foreign Ministry indicated it was closely monitoring the situation and called for the “humane and dignified treatment” of the Russian crew members.

The Transport Ministry condemned the seizure as an alleged violation of international maritime law.

“In accordance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the ministry stated, “freedom of navigation is guaranteed in high seas waters, and no nation has the right to use force against vessels properly registered under another nation’s jurisdiction.”

Interestingly, there was a noticeable lack of immediate commentary from Russian officials, who are usually quick to denounce U.S. actions.

One of the few to comment, Senator Andrei Klishas, referred to the incident as “outright piracy on the high seas” in a message on his Telegram channel.

Since Trump’s return to the presidency last January, Putin seems to have attempted to reduce public disputes with him.

Despite longstanding tensions between Washington and Moscow, Putin has welcomed what he perceives as Trump’s openness to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine that would be favorable to Russia and has aimed to emphasize cooperation over antagonism.

“Trump is evidently frustrated that the war in Ukraine hasn’t concluded, and the capture of the tanker could be interpreted as a warning that his patience is running thin,” independent analyst Konstantin Kalachev told the Ostorozhno Media news outlet.

However, White House press secretary Leavitt stated that Trump has a «very open, honest, and good» relationship with Putin when asked if the tanker seizure would escalate tensions with Russia.