In a dramatic high-seas confrontation that risks escalating geopolitical friction, the United States has attempted to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker with connections to Venezuela. The incident followed a pursuit lasting more than two weeks across the Atlantic Ocean, with a Russian submarine and warship operating in the vicinity, according to information provided by two American officials to Reuters on Wednesday.
The Atlantic Pursuit and Evasion
The targeted vessel, originally named the Bella-1, managed to slip through what US authorities describe as a maritime "blockade" aimed at enforcing sanctions. The US Coast Guard's initial attempts to board the tanker last month were rebuffed. Subsequently, the ship re-registered under a Russian flag and was renamed the Marinera. This move complicated the enforcement action, marking what appears to be the first recent attempt by the US military to seize a Russian-flagged vessel.
The operation was carried out jointly by the US Coast Guard and the US military. Officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the presence of Russian military assets, including a submarine, in the general area near Iceland where the seizure was attempted. The precise proximity of the Russian vessels to the operation remains unclear, but their presence added a significant layer of risk to the already tense situation.
Broader Campaign Against Venezuelan Oil
This seizure attempt is the latest in a series of actions under President Donald Trump's pressure campaign targeting Venezuela's oil exports. The Marinera was specifically singled out for its links to Caracas. In a related development, US officials separately disclosed that the Coast Guard intercepted another tanker connected to Venezuela in Latin American waters. These moves are part of a continued US effort to enforce a strict maritime blockade against sanctioned vessels carrying Venezuelan oil.
The maritime confrontations come just days after a separate, highly provocative operation in Venezuela. US special forces conducted a deadly dawn raid in Caracas last Saturday, aiming to capture President Nicolas Maduro and transport him to the United States. Following the operation, Maduro was handed over to US federal authorities to face prosecution on charges related to alleged drug trafficking.
Accusations and Counter-Accusations Fly
The capture of President Maduro was immediately condemned by top Venezuelan officials, who labelled it a "kid kidnapping" and accused the United States of attempting to steal the nation's vast oil reserves, which are estimated to be the largest globally.
In response, President Trump and senior US officials have levelled their own accusations against Venezuela, claiming the country has stolen US oil. This statement is widely seen as a reference to the multiple waves of nationalisation within Venezuela's energy sector over the past fifty years. The attempted tanker seizure near Iceland thus represents a new front in this ongoing economic and diplomatic conflict, now with the added complexity of direct Russian involvement.
