U.S. Military Takes Control of Russian-Registered Oil Tanker Amid Sanction Violations

Washington claims that the tanker is part of a covert fleet transporting oil for nations such as Venezuela, Russia, and Iran in breach of U.S. sanctions, and it was seized even though the vessel was being accompanied by the Russian Navy.

The ship had previously evaded an attempt to board it near the oil-rich waters of Venezuela last month, where a recent U.S. operation led to the removal of authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro, a close associate of Moscow.

According to a statement from U.S. European Command on X, «the vessel was confiscated in the North Atlantic based on a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court.» Pentagon official Pete Hegseth mentioned that the U.S. blockade on Venezuelan oil is being enforced «anywhere across the globe.»

Russia’s Transport Ministry condemned the seizure, asserting that «freedom of navigation applies to high seas waters.»

The Russian Foreign Ministry urged the U.S. to facilitate the prompt return of the Russian crew aboard the ship, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters that the crew members may be brought to the United States for legal action.

Previously named Bella-1, the vessel recently reregistered under Russia, adopting the name Marinera, and its crew reportedly displayed a Russian flag on the ship.

Leavitt stated that Washington considers the vessel stateless.

Additionally, the U.S. military announced that another sanctioned tanker had been seized in the Caribbean, bringing the total number of vessels under U.S. control since last month to four.

Homeland Security head Kristi Noem shared on X that both seized tankers «were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it,» and shared a video showing armed U.S. personnel descending from a helicopter onto an undisclosed ship.

The North Atlantic operation occurred despite reports of Russia deploying a submarine and other naval assets to escort the tanker.

The ship was en route to Venezuela before successfully bypassing the U.S. blockade and has been under U.S. sanctions since 2024 due to alleged connections to Iran and Hezbollah.

Last weekend, U.S. special forces captured Maduro and his wife in Caracas and transported them to New York to face drug-related charges.

Since then, Trump has stated that the United States will oversee Venezuela, and American firms will control its vital oil sector.

Brian Finucane from the International Crisis Group noted that the seizure of the tankers aligns with the «overarching theme regarding Venezuela and the current administration’s approach to foreign policy, which involves literally seizing oil.»

In response to criticism from lawmakers, Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that the U.S. has a strategy for Venezuela, insisting that the White House is «not just improvising.»

In Caracas, after several days of closed businesses and sporadic public transport, the city’s streets were bustling again on Wednesday with pedestrians, street vendors, vehicles, and motorcycles.

On Tuesday, Trump announced that 30 to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude will be sent to U.S. ports, with revenue—potentially exceeding $2 billion at current market rates—placed under his direct control.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright further stated that Washington would maintain control over Venezuelan oil sales indefinitely, while the state oil company PDVSA confirmed that discussions for crude sales to the U.S. are ongoing.

Leavitt explained that funds generated from the Venezuelan crude sales will be directed to U.S.-controlled accounts and «will be disbursed for the benefit of both the American and Venezuelan people.»

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, a long-time confidante of Maduro, has pledged cooperation with the United States amid concerns that Trump may seek broader regime change, with Leavitt indicating that the nation’s decisions would now be «orchestrated» by Washington.