US Moves To Seize Venezuela-Linked Oil Tanker After Atlantic Pursuit, Risking Russia Tensions

Last Updated:January 07, 2026, 19:18 IST

The tanker, originally known as the Bella-1, slipped through a US maritime “blockade” of sanctioned vessels and rebuffed attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it.

The Marinera’s reflagging under a Russian registry adds another layer of complexity.

The United States is attempting to seize a Venezuela-linked oil tanker after a more than two-week pursuit across the Atlantic, a move that could heighten tensions with Russia and further escalate Washington’s pressure campaign against Venezuela.

The tanker, originally known as the Bella-1, slipped through a US maritime “blockade" of sanctioned vessels and rebuffed attempts by the US Coast Guard to board it, prompting an extended chase across international waters. The vessel has since been renamed Marinera and is now sailing under a Russian flag.

US officials said the seizure operation is being carried out jointly by the Coast Guard and the US military. Russian naval assets were reported to be in the general vicinity during the operation, including a Russian submarine, underscoring the geopolitical risks surrounding the interception.

The Marinera is the latest vessel targeted under the Donald Trump administration, which has intensified efforts to disrupt oil shipments linked to Venezuela as part of its broader strategy to cut off revenue streams to the government of Nicolas Maduro.

Washington has imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector, accusing Nicolas Maduro’s government of using illicit exports to finance corruption and repression. In recent weeks, US authorities have intercepted multiple Venezuela-linked tankers in Latin American waters as part of what officials describe as a maritime blockade aimed at enforcing those sanctions.

The Marinera’s reflagging under a Russian registry adds another layer of complexity, potentially drawing Moscow more directly into a confrontation over sanctions enforcement at sea.

The attempted seizure comes amid heightened US scrutiny of so-called “shadow fleet" tankers that transport oil for sanctioned states by changing names, flags and ownership structures to evade enforcement. US officials say such vessels undermine international sanctions regimes and pose risks to maritime safety and global energy markets. Russia, which has deepened political and economic ties with Venezuela, has criticized US sanctions as illegal and warned against interference with Russian-flagged ships.

News world US Moves To Seize Venezuela-Linked Oil Tanker After Atlantic Pursuit, Risking Russia Tensions

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