The United States has seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic after a prolonged pursuit from waters near Venezuela, escalating a growing confrontation over sanctions enforcement and illicit oil shipments.
US officials said the tanker was part of a clandestine “shadow fleet” allegedly used to move oil for sanctioned countries including Venezuela, Russia and Iran, bypassing US restrictions.
The vessel had earlier evaded an attempted boarding by the US Coast Guard late last month near Venezuela, shortly before a US military operation led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Confirming the seizure on Wednesday, US European Command said the action was carried out under the authority of a warrant issued by a US federal court.
“The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a US federal court,” the command said in a statement.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the operation demonstrated that Washington’s blockade of Venezuelan oil exports was being enforced globally.
“Any vessel attempting to violate US sanctions will be held accountable, regardless of location,” he said in a post following the seizure.
The US military later announced that it had also seized another sanctioned tanker in the Caribbean Sea, further intensifying its maritime crackdown.
The North Atlantic interception occurred despite Russia deploying a submarine and other naval assets to escort the tanker, arguing that the ship was operating legally under the Russian flag in international waters.
Russia’s foreign ministry criticised the US action, saying the vessel was receiving excessive and unwarranted attention from US and NATO forces.
“For reasons unclear to us, the Russian vessel has become the focus of disproportionate interest from the US and NATO militaries,” the ministry said.
The tanker, formerly known as Bella-1, had recently re-registered under Russia, changed its name to Marinera, and reportedly painted a Russian flag on its hull amid the pursuit.
The ship had been bound for Venezuela but was not carrying cargo when it avoided the US blockade. It has been under US sanctions since 2024 over alleged links to Iran and Hezbollah.
The seizure comes amid sweeping US actions in Venezuela. At the weekend, US special forces detained Maduro and his wife in Caracas and transferred them to New York to face drug-related charges.
Since then, President Donald Trump has said the United States will assume control of Venezuela’s oil sector, with US companies taking over production and exports.
Trump also said Venezuela would hand over 30 to 50 million barrels of crude oil to the United States, a move that could generate more than $2 billion in revenue at current prices.
However, it remains unclear whether Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has formally approved the arrangement, how it would be implemented, or the legal framework governing the transfer.
Rodríguez, a former vice president and energy minister under Maduro, has pledged cooperation with Washington amid concerns that the United States may pursue broader political changes in the country.
Trump has said Washington is now “in charge” of Venezuela and has vowed to assert US dominance across the Western Hemisphere.
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